OKC Astronomy Club Hosts Stellar Explosion Public Viewing In Watonga

The Oklahoma City Astronomy Club will host a public viewing of a stellar explosion this Saturday night in Blaine County.

Earlier this week, astronomers detected a new supernova explosion in M 82, a nearby galaxy close to the Milky Way galaxy.

The last supernova to travel this close to Earth was at least 1993. The brightness of a supernova is based on its magnitude. The lower the magnitude number, the brighter the object will be. Astronomers have rated the new supernova at less than magnitude 12 with a potential to brighten to magnitude eight or nine. With a low magnitude number, the stellar blast will be easy to view through telescopes.

The public is invited to join the OKC Astronomy Club members at the Cheddar Ranch Observatory in Watonga, Oklahoma. The public will have the opportunity to share views on the stellar explosion, as well as Jupiter and other galaxies.

Public attendees have been asked to meet at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Cherokee Truck Stop at exit 108 on I-40 at the US-281 junction. Club members will meet and escort public attendees to the observatory.