SN 2011dh

SN 2011dh is a supernova in the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51). On 31 May 2011 an apparent magnitude 13.5 type II supernova (the explosion of a single massive star) was detected in M51 at coordinates 13:30:05.08 +47:10:11.2.[4] It was discovered by Tom Reiland; Thomas Griga; Amédée Riou; and Stephane Lamotte Bailey and confirmed by several sources, including the Palomar Transient Factory.[5] A candidate progenitor has been detected in Hubble Space Telescope images at coordinates 13:30:05.119 +47:10:11.55.[9] The progenitor may have been a highly luminous yellow supergiant with an initial mass of 18-24 solar masses.[6] The supernova appears to have peaked near apparent magnitude 12.1 on 19 June 2011.[8]

SN 2011dh
Other designationsSN 2011dh, [RMS2015] J133005+471010
Event typeSupernova 
Spectral classIIb[1][2]
Date31 May 2011[3]
ConstellationCanes Venatici
Right ascension13h 30m 05.08s[4][5]
Declination+47° 10′ 11.2″[4][5]
EpochJ2000
HostWhirlpool Galaxy (M51)
Progenitor?
Progenitor typeyellow supergiant[6][7]
Colour (B-V)?
Peak apparent magnitude12.1[8]

Emission spectra from W. M. Keck Observatory, obtained by Palomar Transient Factory indicate that this is a type II supernova with a relatively blue continuum with P Cygni profiles in the Balmer series.[4] This is a unique event, because it occurs in a galaxy that is imaged almost constantly. It is expected to be observable for northern hemisphere observers for several months.[4]

This is the third supernova to be recorded in the Whirlpool galaxy since 1994 (following SN 1994I and SN 2005cs) which is a lot for a single galaxy.[10] The galactic supernova frequency is estimated to be around one event every 40 years.[11]

Observing

In terms of visual stargazing with a large amateur telescope, this object may not jump out at the viewer. As of June 25, 2011, it was holding reasonably steady at magnitude 12.7. At that time, the supernova was about 300 times fainter than the naked eye magnitude of 6.5.[12] The supernova is an easy target for an amateur telescope equipped with a modern CCD camera under a dark sky.

References
  1. "ATEL 3413: PTF11eon/SN2011dh is Possibly a Type IIb Event". Astronomers Telegram. 2011-06-08. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  2. "Early Optical Spectroscopy of SN 2011dh in M51". Astronomers Telegram. 2011-06-12. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  3. Kelly Beatty (June 3, 2011). "Supernova Erupts in Whirlpool Galaxy". Sky and Telescope. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
  4. Richard Kinne (kqr) (2011-06-03). "AAVSO Special Notice #241: New Supernova in M51". AAVSO. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
  5. "ATEL 3398: PTF Discovery of a Type II Supernova in M51". Astronomers Telegram. 2011-06-03. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
  6. "ATEL 3401: Properties of the Candidate Progenitor of SN 2011dh in M51". Astronomers Telegram. 2011-06-03. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
  7. Matson, John (2013). "Sayonara, Supergiant". Scientific American. 309 (5): 18–9. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican1113-18a. PMID 24283007.
  8. David Bishop. "Supernovae 2011dh in M51". supernovae.net (International Supernovae Network). Retrieved 2011-06-06.
  9. "ATEL 3399: POSSIBLE PROGENITOR OF THE NEW TYPE II SN IN M51". Astronomers Telegram. 2011-06-03. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
  10. Nemiroff, R.; Bonnell, J., eds. (5 June 2011). "Another Nearby Supernova in the Whirlpool Galaxy". Astronomy Picture of the Day. NASA.
  11. Tammann, G. A.; Loeffler, W.; Schroeder, A. (June 1994). "The Galactic supernova rate". The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series. 92 (2): 487–493. Bibcode:1994ApJS...92..487T. doi:10.1086/192002.
  12. Math: 2.512(12.7 − 6.5) = 302
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