No Arabic abstract
We report the results of our follow-up campaign of the supernova impostor PSN J09132750+7627410, based on optical data covering $sim250,rm{d}$. From the beginning, the transient shows prominent narrow Balmer lines with P-Cygni profiles, with a blue-shifted absorption component becoming more prominent with time. Along the $sim3,rm{months}$ of the spectroscopic monitoring, broad components are never detected in the hydrogen lines, suggesting that these features are produced in slowly expanding material. The transient reaches an absolute magnitude $M_r=-13.60pm0.19,rm{mag}$ at maximum, a typical luminosity for supernova impostors. Amateur astronomers provided $sim4,rm{years}$ of archival observations of the host galaxy, NGC 2748. The detection of the quiescent progenitor star in archival images obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope suggests it to be an $18-20$msun white-yellow supergiant.
Reports of the death of the precursor of Supernova (SN) 1961V in NGC 1058 are exaggerated. Consideration of the best astrometric data shows that the star, known as Object 7, lies at the greatest proximity to SN 1961V and is the likely survivor of the SN impostor super-outburst. SN 1961V does not coincide with a neighboring radio source and is therefore not a radio SN. Additionally, the current properties of Object 7, based on data obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope, are consistent with it being a quiescent Luminous Blue Variable (LBV). Furthermore, post-explosion non-detections by the Spitzer Space Telescope do not necessarily and sufficiently rule out a surviving LBV. We therefore consider, based on the available evidence, that it is yet a bit premature to reclassify SN 1961V as a bona fide SN. The inevitable demise of this star, though, may not be too far off.
We present an analysis of late-time Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 and Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 observations of the site of the Type Ic SN 2007gr in NGC 1058. The SN is barely recovered in the late-time WFPC2 observations, while a possible detection in the later WFC3 data is debatable. These observations were used to conduct a multiwavelength study of the surrounding stellar population. We fit spatial profiles to a nearby bright source that was previously proposed to be a host cluster. We find that, rather than being an extended cluster, it is consistent with a single point-like object. Fitting stellar models to the observed spectral energy distribution of this source, we conclude it is A1-A3 Yellow Supergiant, possibly corresponding to a star with $M_{ZAMS} = 40M_{odot}$. SN 2007gr is situated in a massive star association, with diameter of $approx 300,mathrm{pc}$. We present a Bayesian scheme to determine the properties of the surrounding massive star population, in conjunction with the Padova isochrones. We find that the stellar population, as observed in either the WFC3 and WFPC2 observations, can be well fit by two age distributions with mean ages: ~6.3 Myr and ~50 Myr. The stellar population is clearly dominated by the younger age solution (by factors of 3.5 and 5.7 from the WFPC2 and WFC3 observations, respectively), which corresponds to the lifetime of a star with $M_{ZAMS} sim 30M_{odot}$. This is strong evidence in favour of the hypothesis that SN 2007gr arose from a massive progenitor star, possibly capable of becoming a Wolf-Rayet star.
A search for the progenitor of SN~2010jl, an unusually luminous core-collapse supernova of Type~IIn, using pre-explosion {it Hubble}/WFPC2 and {it Spitzer}/IRAC images of the region, yielded upper limits on the UV and near-infrared (IR) fluxes from any candidate star. These upper limits constrain the luminosity and effective temperature of the progenitor, the mass of any preexisting dust in its surrounding circumstellar medium (CSM), and dust proximity to the star. A {it lower} limit on the CSM dust mass is required to hide a luminous progenitor from detection by {it Hubble}. {it Upper} limits on the CSM dust mass and constraints on its proximity to the star are set by requiring that the absorbed and reradiated IR emission not exceed the IRAC upper limits. Using the combined extinction-IR emission constraints we present viable $M_d-R_1$ combinations, where $M_d$ and $R_1$ are the CSM dust mass and its inner radius. These depend on the CSM outer radius, dust composition and grain size, and the properties of the progenitor. The results constrain the pre-supernova evolution of the progenitor, and the nature and origin of the observed post-explosion IR emission from SN~2010jl. In particular, an $eta$~Car-type progenitor will require at least 4~mag of visual extinction to avoid detection by the {it Hubble}. This can be achieved with dust masses $gtrsim 10^{-3}$~msun (less than the estimated 0.2-0.5~msun around $eta$~Car) which must be located at distances of $gtrsim 10^{16}$~cm from the star to avoid detection by {it Spitzer}.
`Star G, near the center of the supernova remnant of Tychos SN1572, has been claimed to be the ex-companion star of the exploding white dwarf, thus pointing to the progenitor being like a recurrent nova. This claim has been controversial, but there have been no confident proofs or disproofs. Previously, no has seriously addressed the question as to the exact explosion site in 1572. We now provide accurate measures of the supernova position by two radically different methods. Our first method is to use the 42 measured angular distances between the supernova in 1572 and bright nearby stars, with individual measures being as good as 84 arc-seconds, and all resulting in a position with a 1-$sigma$ error radius of 39 arc-seconds (including systematic uncertainties). Our second method is to use a detailed and realistic expansion model for 19 positions around the edge of the remnant, where the swept-up material has measured densities, and we determine the center of expansion with a chi-square fit to the 19 measured radii and velocities. This method has a 1-$sigma$ error radius of 7.5 arc-seconds. Both measures are substantially offset from the geometric center, and both agree closely, proving that neither has any significant systematic errors. Our final combined position for the site of the 1572 explosion is J2000 $alpha$=0h 25m 15.36s, $delta=64^{circ} 8 40.2$, with a 7.3 arc-second 1-sigma uncertainty. Star G is rejected at the 8.2-$sigma$ confidence level. Our new position lies mostly outside the region previously searched for ex-companion stars.
We present and analyse an extensive dataset of the superluminous supernova (SLSN) LSQ14mo (z = 0.256), consisting of a multi-colour lightcurve from -30 d to +70 d in the rest-frame and a series of 6 spectra from PESSTO covering -7 d to +50 d. This is among the densest spectroscopic coverage, and best-constrained rising lightcurve, for a fast-declining hydrogen-poor SLSN. The bolometric lightcurve can be reproduced with a millisecond magnetar model with ~ 4 M_sol ejecta mass, and the temperature and velocity evolution is also suggestive of a magnetar as the power source. Spectral modelling indicates that the SN ejected ~ 6 M_sol of CO-rich material with a kinetic energy of ~ 7 x 10^51 erg, and suggests a partially thermalised additional source of luminosity between -2 d and +22 d. This may be due to interaction with a shell of material originating from pre-explosion mass loss. We further present a detailed analysis of the host galaxy system of LSQ14mo. PESSTO and GROND imaging show three spatially resolved bright regions, and we used the VLT and FORS2 to obtain a deep (five-hour exposure) spectra of the SN position and the three star-forming regions, which are at a similar redshift. The FORS spectrum at +300 days shows no trace of SN emission lines and we place limits on the strength of [O I] from comparisons with other Ic SNe. The deep spectra provides a unique chance to investigate spatial variations in the host star-formation activity and metallicity. The specific star-formation rate is similar in all three components, as is the presence of a young stellar population. However, the position of LSQ14mo exhibits a lower metallicity, with 12 + log(O/H) = 8.2 in both the R23 and N2 scales (corresponding to ~ 0.3 Z_sol). We propose that the three bright regions in the host system are interacting, which thus triggers star-formation and forms young stellar populations.