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"Colossal star explosion detected" | BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35315509)

QuoteAstronomers have seen what could be the most powerful supernova ever detected.

The exploding star was first observed back in June last year but is still radiating vast amounts of energy.

At its peak, the event was 200 times more powerful than a typical supernova, making it shine with 570 billion times the brightness of our Sun.

Researchers think the explosion and ongoing activity have been boosted by a very dense, highly magnetised, remnant object called a magnetar.

[Continues . . . (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35315509)]

It's interesting that the BBC reporter wrote that last sentence, in view of the last sentence in the abstract for the paper (http://science.sciencemag.org/content/351/6270/257) in Science.

QuoteIn the 4 months since first detection, ASASSN-15lh radiated (1.1 ± 0.2) × 10⁵² ergs, challenging the magnetar model for its engine.

Looking at the side-by-side photos it does appear obvious that the object is significantly brighter in the right image.  But almost all the other objects also appear different, as well. Does the quality of the view affect the calculation of brightness?  Just askin'.

Are we talking the most powerful supernova or the biggest hypernova? I mean, is this the most powerful star explosion ever detected? Just trying to decide to what degree I should be impressed here.

Quote from: Ecurb Noselrub on January 15, 2016, 07:40:54 AM
Looking at the side-by-side photos it does appear obvious that the object is significantly brighter in the right image.  But almost all the other objects also appear different, as well. Does the quality of the view affect the calculation of brightness?  Just askin'.

Breaking news. Brightest supernova ever turns out to be due to poorly focused telescope!  :drink:

Don't they measure brightness of suchandsuch in distant corners of the observable universe by actual photon counts?