Supernova 2011fe

A bright supernova appeared in M101 towards the end of August. At its brightest on about September 18, it reached around magnitude 11.1 and was easily visible in an 8" telescope; the third such supernova of 2011.

Supernova 2011fe. September 25, 2011.
Combination of 15, 1 minute images unfiltered.
SBIG STL-1001E CCD. 20" f/6.8 Dall-Kirkham cassegrain telescope at prime focus.

Supernova 2011fe. December 22, 2011.
Combination of 5, 3 minute images unfiltered and 5, 3 minute images using red, green and blue filters.
SBIG STL-1001E CCD. 20" f/6.8 Dall-Kirkham cassegrain telescope at prime focus.

Around the start of 2012, the supernova was still visible in an 18" telescope at around magnitude 14.

Supernova 2011fe. January 3, 2012.
Combination of 5, 3 minute images unfiltered.
SBIG STL-1001E CCD. 20" f/6.8 Dall-Kirkham cassegrain telescope at prime focus.

I continued observing the supernova until September 2012, by which time it had faded from view. The resulting lightcurve is shown below. The supernova was a Type II, the spectacular death of a high-mass star.

SN 2011fe Lightcurve

Below is an animation of all of the imges I was able to obtain. It is possible to see the supernova brighten a little before fading away to nothing.