Summary
SN 2011dh was a supernova in the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51). It was discovered on 31 May 2011, with an apparent magnitude 13.5.[4] and confirmed by several sources, including the Palomar Transient Factory.[5] A candidate progenitor was detected in Hubble Space Telescope images.[9] The progenitor may have been a highly luminous yellow supergiant with an initial mass of 18-24 solar masses.[6] The supernova peaked near apparent magnitude 12.1 on 19 June 2011.[8] Emission spectra indicated that the explosion was a type II supernova, in which a massive star collapses once nuclear fusion has ceased in its core.[4]
| Event type | Supernova  |
|---|---|
| IIb[1][2] | |
| Date | 31 May 2011[3] |
| Constellation | Canes Venatici |
| Right ascension | 13h 30m 05.08s[4][5] |
| Declination | +47° 10′ 11.2″[4][5] |
| Epoch | J2000 |
| Host | Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) |
| Progenitor | ? |
| Progenitor type | yellow supergiant[6][7] |
| Colour (B-V) | ? |
| Peak apparent magnitude | 12.1[8] |
| Other designations | SN 2011dh, [RMS2015] J133005+471010 |
SN2011dh was the third supernova to be recorded in the Whirlpool galaxy since 1994 (following SN 1994I and SN 2005cs).[10] The supernova frequency in the Milky Way is estimated to be around one event every 40 years.[11]
References edit
- ^ "ATEL 3413: PTF11eon/SN2011dh is Possibly a Type IIb Event". Astronomers Telegram. 2011-06-08. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
- ^ "Early Optical Spectroscopy of SN 2011dh in M51". Astronomers Telegram. 2011-06-12. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
- ^ Kelly Beatty (June 3, 2011). "Supernova Erupts in Whirlpool Galaxy". Sky and Telescope. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
- ^ a b c d Richard Kinne (kqr) (2011-06-03). "AAVSO Special Notice #241: New Supernova in M51". AAVSO. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
- ^ a b c "ATEL 3398: PTF Discovery of a Type II Supernova in M51". Astronomers Telegram. 2011-06-03. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
- ^ a b "ATEL 3401: Properties of the Candidate Progenitor of SN 2011dh in M51". Astronomers Telegram. 2011-06-03. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
- ^ Matson, John (2013). "Sayonara, Supergiant". Scientific American. 309 (5): 18–9. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican1113-18a. PMID 24283007.
- ^ a b David Bishop. "Supernovae 2011dh in M51". supernovae.net (International Supernovae Network). Retrieved 2011-06-06.
- ^ "ATEL 3399: POSSIBLE PROGENITOR OF THE NEW TYPE II SN IN M51". Astronomers Telegram. 2011-06-03. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
- ^ Nemiroff, R.; Bonnell, J., eds. (5 June 2011). "Another Nearby Supernova in the Whirlpool Galaxy". Astronomy Picture of the Day. NASA.
- ^ 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.
External links edit
- Light curves and spectra Archived 2017-10-22 at the Wayback Machine on the Open Supernova Catalog
- GIF animation of pre and post images of SN 2011dh
- Views of the developing supernova
- SN 2011dh progenitor?
- Magnitude comparison 2011-06-02
- Twitter Helps Astronomers Zero-In on M51 Supernova Archived 2012-09-30 at the Wayback Machine (Jun 6, 2011 Ian O'Neill)
- M51 (Whirlpool Galaxy) at Las Cumbres Observatory on 6 Jun 2011
- Supernova sn2011dh in M51 is brightening! (June 14, 2011 Ian Musgrave)
- PTF11eon/SN2011dh: Discovery of a Type IIb Supernova From a Compact Progenitor in the Nearby Galaxy M51 (arXiv:1106.3551 : 17 Jun 2011)
- Panchromatic Observations of SN 2011dh Point to a Compact Progenitor Star (arXiv:1107.1876 : 10 Jul 2011)