A New Hope
Supernova 2005cs in M51 (see center of right image)
Discovered by Wolfgang Kloehr, June 28, 2005

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Using recent estimates, about 37 million years ago in the central spiral arm of the Whirlpool Galaxy, gravity had it's way with a massive star when it suddenly collapsed inward upon itself. The rebound of this event was so violent that it tore the star to shreds and unleashed a planet erupting force which briefly outshone the combined light of it's own galaxy. At the same time, our progenitors were busy struggling for survival on four legs while dodging solar system leftovers big enough to eventually carve out Chesapeake Bay. But, I digress... By the time news of this ancient cataclysm reached us on June 27, it's signature was no brighter than a candle seen from many miles distance and only then by those who cared to look. Since I'm optimistic that the dust particles of supernova remnants eventually re-assemble, go to college, have families and learn how to screw up perfectly good ccd images :>), I thought it important to take a picture of this origin event. Where some see the death of a star, I see the birth of hope.