* Astronomy

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Home -> Astronomy News -> Supernovae -> Possible supernova in NGC 1309
Post Info TOPIC: Possible supernova in NGC 1309
Blobrana


L

Posts: 131433
Date:
Supernova 2012Z
Permalink  
 

Title: A luminous, blue progenitor system for a type-Iax supernova
Author: Curtis McCully, Saurabh W. Jha, Ryan J. Foley, Lars Bildsten, Wen-fai Fong, Robert P. Kirshner, G. H. Marion, Adam G. Riess, Maximilian D. Stritzinger

Type-Iax supernovae (SN Iax) are stellar explosions that are spectroscopically similar to some type-Ia supernovae (SN Ia) at maximum light, except with lower ejecta velocities. They are also distinguished by lower luminosities. At late times, their spectroscopic properties diverge from other SN, but their composition (dominated by iron-group and intermediate-mass elements) suggests a physical connection to normal SN Ia. These are not rare; SN Iax occur at a rate between 5 and 30% of the normal SN Ia rate. The leading models for SN Iax are thermonuclear explosions of accreting carbon-oxygen white dwarfs that do not completely unbind the star, implying they are "less successful" cousins of normal SN Ia, where complete disruption is observed. Here we report the detection of the luminous, blue progenitor system of the type-Iax SN 2012Z in deep pre-explosion imaging. Its luminosity, colors, environment, and similarity to the progenitor of the Galactic helium nova V445 Puppis, suggest that SN 2012Z was the explosion of a white dwarf accreting from a helium-star companion. Observations in the next few years, after SN 2012Z has faded, could test this hypothesis, or alternatively show that this supernova was actually the explosive death of a massive star.

Read more (7422kb, PDF)



__________________
Blobrana


L

Posts: 131433
Date:
SN 2012Z
Permalink  
 

NASA's Hubble Finds Supernova Star System Linked to Potential 'Zombie Star'

Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope for the first time have spotted a star system that later produced an unusual supernova explosion of a white dwarf, the stripped-down core of an ordinary star at the end of its life.
Examining archived Hubble images taken before the supernova, astronomers say they have detected the blue companion star of the white dwarf. The white dwarf slowly siphoned fuel from its companion, eventually igniting a runaway nuclear reaction in the dead star, and producing a weak supernova blast.
This particular supernova is classified as a Type Iax, a recently identified class of stellar explosion.
Read more



__________________
Blobrana


L

Posts: 131433
Date:
Supernova 2012Z
Permalink  
 

22:12 UT, 23rd February, 2012



__________________
Blobrana


L

Posts: 131433
Date:
Possible supernova in NGC 1309
Permalink  
 

Confirmed:

The Type Ia supernova 2012Z is currently at magnitude ~13.5

NGC1309b.gif
Expand (37kb, 1024 x 768)

22:12 UT, 23rd February, 2012

NGC 1309 is a spiral galaxy located approximately 120 million light-years away in the constellation Eridanus.



__________________
Blobrana


L

Posts: 131433
Date:
Permalink  
 

A possible magnitude 15.6 supernova was discovered on the 29th January, 2012, in the spiral galaxy NGC 1309, in the constellation Eridanus, by the Lick Observatory Supernova Search.
The supernova is located 15" west and 43" north from the center of the galaxy.
As yet the type is unknown.
The galaxy also hosted the Type Ia Supernova, 2002fk

Position (2000): RA 03 22 05.35 | Dec -15° 23' 15.6"

z = 0.007125


__________________
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
Home -> Astronomy News -> Supernovae -> Possible supernova in NGC 1309


Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse 		Powered by ActiveBoard