Article Posted on : - Aug 27, 2011

The arrow marks PTF 11kly in images taken on the Palomar 48-inch telescope over the nights of, from left to right, Aug. 22, 23 and 24. Photo: Peter Nugent and the Palomar Transient Factory.

WASHINGTON (BNS): Astronomers have discovered a supernova which is said to be the closest supernova in a generation, according to reports.

The supernova is discovered by using the Palomar Transient Factory survey at Palomar Observatory in Southern California.

According to space.com, the supernova, or exploded star, flared up Tuesday night in the Pinwheel Galaxy. The star was just 21 million light-years from Earth and it is the closest star explosion of its type observed since 1986.

Researchers said they think they caught the supernova, named PTF 11kly, within hours of its explosion.

"We are finding new clues to solving the mystery of the origin of these supernovae that has perplexed us for 70 years. Despite looking at thousands of supernovae, I’ve never seen anything like this before,” the website quoted Andrew Howell of UC Santa Barbara as saying.

We will be watching the supernova evolve over the next couple of weeks. Catching it so early in its formation and evolution is a rare treat, researchers said.