Hard to think of a better backyard party theme than “exploding star party,” and it just so happens we’re in luck. A supernova at the edge of the Pinwheel Galaxy, about 21 million light years away, should be bright enough to see with binoculars, a crappy telescope, or even a DSLR camera, the first time something like this has been close enough and big enough to see without a mega-telescope in 30 years. Peter Nuget, an astrophysicist at UC Berkeley, explains:

Obviously, you’re better off getting out of the city lights for it. Prime viewing is a few hours after sunset.

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