Hampden astronomer spies 2nd supernova

HAMPDEN – Doug Rich, amateur astronomer from Hampden, has done it again. In January he discovered a new supernova and on April 26 he discovered another one.

A supernova is a cataclysmic explosion of an aged star. This particular event, called 2003dw, occurred more than 350 million years ago but because it is in a far distant galaxy, Rich just saw the event two weeks ago, he said Friday.

While this supernova was farther away than the one Rich discovered in January, it was actually brighter. He explained that is because it was “probably a 1a type supernova.” These occur when white dwarfs, old stars once the size of our sun, use up the material in their core. “Normally, they just peter out,” but if there is a nearby expanding red giant star they absorb extra material from it.

When the white dwarf reaches a certain mass, 1.44 times that of our sun, it collapses, Rich explained. The incredible heat and compression causes a huge amount of nuclear fusion. We would not see a star this distant under normal circumstances, even with the Hubble telescope, but the brightness of this explosion was so great we can see it in spite of the fact that it is 350 million light years away. A light year is 6 trillion miles.

Although there were 300 sightings of supernovae worldwide last year, Rich said there have been only four amateur astronomers in the world regularly making sightings of these events. It seems Rich is ready to join their ranks. His findings may continue because in February he installed a new telescope in the two-story observatory he built and attached to his house in 1999. “This telescope is more powerful and can detect events that are not as bright,” he said.

Rich said the verification process on his latest find went quickly. “I spent three days with Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams, while they verified my find,” said Rich, referring to his first supernova discovery. “They get 25 false alarms a day, so they have to be careful.” CBAT is the international clearinghouse for events such as these. “This time it took no time,” he said, noting this further indicates his establishment as a legitimate hunter of supernovae.

Rich works as an air traffic control specialist at the Bangor International Airport. Further aiding his astronomical endeavors is Rich’s planned retirement next year. This will allow him to devote even more than the 60 hours weekly he already spends on it. He does not intend to become a night owl though. His new “robotic telescope” can be set to take photos before he goes to bed at night.

Rich said he has the “right wife” for his endeavors. In spite of the time and expense involved in his hobby, “Laurie is very understanding and very supportive” and “even gets pretty excited” about his findings.

For information about this and other bright supernova, go to www.ggw.org.