Record Number of Citizen Scientists Captivated by Super-Close Supernova

The closest supernova to Earth in the last decade, designated (SN) 2023ixf, has captivated a record number of citizen scientists participating in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute (SETI) and Unistellar's Cosmic Cataclysms program. Amateur astronomers collected data from the supernova in the Pinwheel Galaxy, allowing scientists to better understand Type II supernovas. The effort involved 123 dedicated amateur astronomers making 252 observations with 115 telescopes, tracking the supernova's changing brightness over time. The program, funded by the Richard Lounsbery Foundation and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, allows citizen scientists to study and collect data from transient events, and will be enhanced by the upcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile.