"Stunning Supernova in Pinwheel Galaxy Visible from Home Observatory"

Gemini North, part of the International Gemini Observatory, has returned to observing the night sky following the repair and refurbishment of its primary mirror. Its debut observation captured the closest supernova seen in the past five years, SN 2023ixf, located in the Pinwheel Galaxy. The telescope's exceptional spectroscopic capabilities will allow astronomers to study how the light from the supernova fades and how its spectrum evolves over time, helping them better understand the physics of such explosions. The successful repair of the mirror is a great team effort for NOIRLab and its contractors at Safran-Reosc.