Explosions in the Sky: A Rare Visible Supernova

21 Million years ago, a white dwarf star exploded in the Pinwheel Galaxy, and the light from that event has just now reached Earth. Astronomers have spotted the closest supernova in over a quarter century -- you guessed it -- 21 million light years away.

Over the next week or more, you will be able to spot the supernova with a small telescope, or even with binoculars. To find the star, draw an equilateral triangle towards the north from the Big Dipper's last two points (see illustration).

Astronomers find supernovae all the time, but most are hundreds of millions of light years away or more, and are unable to be spotted by amateurs.

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