by iamlucky13 » Wed Jun 18, 2008 6:37 pm
Qev wrote:iamlucky13 wrote:I agree. Additionally, supernova aren't overwhelmingly bright in the visible/infrared light portion of the spectrum, so I'm sure it's unlikely that we'd see one so easily compared to the billions of stars in the parent galaxy.
I was under the impression that supernovae often outshone their host galaxies in visible light. Though in the image Case was pointing out, I agree, it looks like a pair of merging galaxies.
Yes, they often outshine their host galaxies, but they're brightest in gamma rays. Most of the visible light they produce is the afterglow as the gamma rays heat surrounding gas and dust. It is produced much more gradually, so the peak intensity in those wavelengths is lower.
I'm having a hard time finding a good clarification to that trivia about them being brighter than their galaxies. I've found several spectra, but they all seem to be apparent magnitude and not fully labeled, so it's hard to figure out.
Of course, throughout history there have been a few plainly visible in the sky, but all those were within the Milky Way.
[quote="Qev"][quote="iamlucky13"]I agree. Additionally, supernova aren't overwhelmingly bright in the visible/infrared light portion of the spectrum, so I'm sure it's unlikely that we'd see one so easily compared to the billions of stars in the parent galaxy.[/quote]
I was under the impression that supernovae often outshone their host galaxies in visible light. Though in the image Case was pointing out, I agree, it looks like a pair of merging galaxies.[/quote]
Yes, they often outshine their host galaxies, but they're brightest in gamma rays. Most of the visible light they produce is the afterglow as the gamma rays heat surrounding gas and dust. It is produced much more gradually, so the peak intensity in those wavelengths is lower.
I'm having a hard time finding a good clarification to that trivia about them being brighter than their galaxies. I've found several spectra, but they all seem to be apparent magnitude and not fully labeled, so it's hard to figure out.
Of course, throughout history there have been a few plainly visible in the sky, but all those were within the Milky Way.