[3] It was observed by the PTF survey very near the beginning of its supernova event, when it was approximately 1 million times too dim to be visible to the naked eye.

As of 30 September the supernova was at +11 apparent magnitude in the early evening sky after sunset above the northwest horizon.

On the day it was first imaged, 24 August 2011, it was 1 million times too dim to be visible to the unaided eye.

Because this collapse happens at a consistent mass, the resulting explosions have very uniform characteristics, and are used as "standard candles" to measure the distance to their host galaxies.

[11] A better understanding of type Ia supernova behavior may in turn allow theoretical models of dark energy to be improved.