Supernovae and comets are objects that, due to their transient nature, always allow me to use remote telescopes with a clear conscience. This is the case once again. The protagonist of the presented frame is the supernova SN 2024gy in the galaxy NGC 4216.

NGC 4216 (PGC 39246 or UGC 7284), discovered on April 17, 1784, by William Herschel, is a barred spiral galaxy of type SAB(s)b, located on the outskirts of the Virgo constellation. We observe it almost edge-on, with an inclination angle of about 85°. Situated about 40 million light-years away, it has a diameter of nearly 100,000 light-years and belongs to the galaxy cluster in Virgo (a massive galaxy cluster at the center of the Local Supercluster with a diameter of 15 million light-years. It is located within the constellations of Virgo and Coma Berenices).

It is a galaxy with a relatively active, bright, and compact nucleus surrounded by characteristic dusty bands. The galaxy is enveloped by a very diffuse stellar halo with fibrous structures and tidal streams. These structures are believed to be the result of earlier intense interactions with dwarf companion galaxies. With a very low radial velocity of 129 km/s, significantly different from the average velocity of objects in the mentioned Virgo Cluster, where the average radial velocity is 1300 km/s, it indicates that NGC 4216 is moving relatively quickly relative to the cluster's center.

As an interesting fact, it should be noted that our protagonist, like other large spiral galaxies, has grown by absorbing smaller satellite galaxies. Weak stellar streams extend from its galactic halo for thousands of light-years. These streams are captured in images with long cumulative exposure times.

The supernova itself was discovered on January 4, 2024, by an amateur astronomer - the renowned supernova discoverer Koichi Itagaki (with 170 supernovae to his credit, and his latest discovery at the age of 77). Swift confirmation by professional observatories also provided information about the type of supernova. It is a Type Ia supernova. If weather permits and the supernova continues to have reasonable brightness, I will certainly attempt to complement the project with its spectrum. This is already my fifth supernova photograph in the collection and for three objects, I also have their spectra.

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Remote observatory (iTelescope) - Siding Spring Observatory, Australia
Planewave Instruments 20" CDK Celestron F/6.8, FLI-PL6303E CCD Mono, L: 20x180 sec.; RGB: 16x180 sec.
19.01.2023, 20.01.2024, 22.01.2024