M51 Supernova

A new supernova (1325+47B SUPERNOVA 2005cs) in M51 was discovered June 28 by Wolfgang Kloehr, Schweinfurt, Germany. It is at ~ 14th magnitude but is expected to peak at 10.6. A chart is available at:

http://www.aavso.org/tmp/ngc5194-tb.png

Is it possible to have seen the supernova on Friday, July 1 using a 90mm refractor?

I could 'fleetingly' see a star near the center of M51A using averted vision. Skies were around 6.0 magnitude. I was resolving stars around globulars M3, M4, M5, etc. all evening using the same setup.

Rick W

After watching the Harrisburg fireworks last night, I observed SN 2005cs with the ASH 17" f/15 classical Cassegrain under less than ideal skies. Using magnifications of 249 and 259x, I was able to see the supernova and the two field stars more or less bracketing it with averted vision.

Dave Mitsky