I have been watching the supernova nearly since it erupted around 23 Aug. We first viewed the supernova on 26 Aug using Cliff’s 24″ scope in the schoolyard of Waikoloa Elementary. I have since seen it about half a dozen times, as it brightened and peaked at around 10th magnitude in mid September. The supernova has since dimmed somewhat, now about 11.5 magnitude, but still quite easy to find with a small telescope. It is brighter than the host galaxy, M101.
Not a great picture. The galaxy was setting and I was shooting as it slid behind the shoulder of the mountain. All I could manage was a quick sequence of a dozen 30sec images. Still, you can actually see the galaxy and supernova. The image is much as it appears in a larger telescope around 14-20″ of aperture under a dark sky.
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