Junior-Sized Supernova Discovered By New York Teen

Matt_dk writes "In November 2008, Caroline Moore, a 14-year-old student from upstate New York, discovered a supernova in a nearby galaxy, making her the youngest person ever to do so. Additional observations determined that the object, called SN 2008ha, is a new type of stellar explosion, 1000 times more powerful than a nova but 1000 times less powerful than a supernova. Astronomers say that it may be the weakest supernova ever seen."

Comments

If it's anything like my old Chevy Nova...

[GreatAntibob]

It'll light up the night sky.

Re:If it's anything like my old Chevy Nova...

[ChefInnocent]

Is that because you torched it in anger after it "no va"?

Re:If it's anything like my old Chevy Nova...

[Anonymous Coward]

I live in NYC. One of my friends claims I live "upstate" because I live north of 96th St.

Re:If it's anything like my old Chevy Nova...

[Chris Burke]

Huh? Which city have you been to where the ambient light pollution is brighter than the moon?

He probably lives in LA, where it's not a matter of the light pollution being brighter than the moon, but of the moon not being bright enough to penetrate the smog. Ask a 1st Grader what color the sky is, and they'll enthusiastically answer "brown!"

It's misquoted

[ErikTheRed]

Astronomers say that it may be the weakest supernova ever seen.

What actually happened is that the astronomers were told that a 14-year-old child found a supernova that they'd all missed, and they groaned "Oh, that's weak!"

Re:It's misquoted

[KevinKnSC]

It bothers me that /. editors missed the obvious headline "Junior-Sized Supernova Discovered by Junior-Sized Astronomer."

She got a raw deal...

[jimbudncl]

She discovered it and they didn't even name it after her??? Sue, Caroline, sue!

Re:Neither Nova nor Supernova

[Mikkeles]

No; that was in a galaxy, far, far away.

This was in a nearby galaxy.

Re:Statement on Society

[ijakings]

I would much prefer a "How many Librarys of Congress can the explosion blow up" System. So for example this Nova can blow up 1000 times more librarys of congress than a regular Nova.

Re:Neither Nova nor Supernova

[MozeeToby]

Just another planet firing up their LHC, nothing to see here.

Re:Statement on Society

[Anonymous Coward]

It's an explosion dumbass.

Your tiger wants more tofu.

Re:No light pollution there

[SkyDude]

I'm thinking that you may see stars if you've just arrived at the bottom of a well, but they won't be in the sky. You may also hear bells, birds and a lot of wincing.

Re:No light pollution there

[Anonymous Coward]

What? All I see at the bottom of a well is a bucket and this damn lotion.

Wow, that's pretty impressive!

[Nerdposeur]

...for a girl.

Re:Wow, that's pretty impressive!

[NickyGotz22]

Next they'll wanna vote

Re:No light pollution there

[value_added]

Or possibly the sound of someone mumbling something about lotion.

Re:[transcript from Caroline's discovery]

[Anonymous Coward]

You get that joke off the 99 cent menu?

Kilonova, Meganova

[Captain Spam]

Additional observations determined that the object, called SN 2008ha, is a new type of stellar explosion, 1000 times more powerful than a nova but 1000 times less powerful than a supernova.

Well, I'm glad to see celestial phenomena follow the metric system, at least. I propose we name this a kilonova and rename the supernova to a meganova.

Re:Sky coverage + Observing Time = Discoveries

[hcdejong]

IAU Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams

Telegrams?

--- have found possible new celestial phenomenon - stop - proof sent as electronumerical photograph following this message - stop - hcdejong - ends
- START teletype-mime-v1.0 - 00011110101 11010101010 101101 110 1110101 0110 1010 10101 0101 1