Dave McDonald sent a post to the Irish Astronomy forum the other day announcing that he had confirmed a supernova. As with many sciences once you make a discovery, it needs to be verified before you are taken seriously, and Dave was asked to verify the discovery and did so with rather modest equipment. The image below was recorded with an 8″ telescope, and a $300 ccd camera; granted the mount he uses is large and expensive, but such an observation should be within the grasp of many amateurs.
Dave and a few other Irish Astronomers, yours truly included!, will be discussing this observation and the possibility of a more organised group of Irish Supernova watchers at the Whirlpool Star Party in Birr, Co. Offaly, Ireland this weekend.