BOSS Supernova 38

[Ric]

This is amazing guys, you are on an amazing run.

A fantastic effort

[Greg Bock (Greg Bock)]

HI all,
we finally have the Central Bureau Electronic Telegram announcement today for this supernova discovery which is now designated as SN2012dn.
Congratulations once again Stu.

And, as mentioned above, the CBET says that this object was imaged by the 8-m Gemini South telescope and shows it to be a type-Ia supernova
approximately a week before maximum light and suggests that 2012dn is a super-Chandra event.

The BOSS website is here:
http://bosssupernova.com/

[madbadgalaxyman (Robert)]

Originally Posted by Greg Bock

we have been advised from Chile that it is likely this object is a "super-Chandra" SN Ia
If it is a Super Chandra, it looks to me like Stu has stumbled upon a very rare object indeed, which is still quite a mystery.

In this case however, was it an explosion of a single white dwarf of mass greater than the Chandra limit of 1.4 solar masses in a binary system, or a merger of 2 white dwarves, or something else?

the observations of this supernova are best explained by assuming that it arose from a white dwarf which grew to twice the mass of the Sun before exploding. They believe that the star, dubbed the "Champagne Supernova" by University of Oklahoma astronomer David R. Branch, may have been spinning so fast that centrifugal force allowed it to exceed the limit. Alternatively, the supernova may have resulted from the merger of two white dwarfs, so that the limit was only violated momentarily.

BOSS, this time you have found something really unusual, thanks to your enthusiasm, persistence, and hard work.

I always admire amateurs like yourselves who put in a very-long-term and very sustained effort, despite the very time-consuming distractions of 'non-astronomical' life.
The enthusiasm and interest and persistence, usually is rewarded, eventually, with some really worthwhile results.

I have had my head buried in books about the other end of the evolutionary spectrum (star formation) for some months, thereby missing out on the "fear and awe" sensation of these SNe going off like super firecrackers.

Getting two white dwarfs and merging them sounds like an interesting science experiment

Cheers, Madbadgalaxyman

[Suzy]

Hi Greg & the BOSS team
A huge congratulations to you guys!
Your work never fails to amaze me and makes me feel all warm and fuzzy because I know you guys... aaah so proud!
I couldn't believe reading through the threads- one after the other (!) until this fourth one, of all this discovery in just 2 wks. Whoa, the last one a doozy!

I've been trying to get my head around the science of this Chandra event but I'm not having much luck getting much information, grrrr.
There is a fantastic article in the current Astronomy magazine on exploding stars. It sure was interesting reading what they're saying about the how bright an sn appears seems to depend on its host galaxy, i.e. high star formation rates, low mass galaxies etc.
I'm no expert on stars. I'm learning- it's tough . Anyhow, I'm waffling on! Fascinating stuff!!!

Now- seeing as you guys have had so many SN catches in the last fortnight, is it too hard a task for you guys to nab me one on my b'day around the corner- you have till friday (I'll extend for w/end).. hmmm A mag 13 would be spiffy . Get to work now.. go on...

Congratulations once again team BOSS on your brilliants efforts.
Please keep the updates coming.

[PeterM]

Hmmmm Suzy, until Friday... well weather is not looking good in Brissy (as you know) so Stu is the most likely for number 5 this month. Saturday I will be imaging from Leyburn so maybe a belated SN? Will do our best.

We have been very honoured to have our names included with many professional astronomers on a paper that has been presented to the Astrophysical Journal. It is to do with a SN discovered last year and has some interesting ramifications for some SN types. I will be more than surprised if in the not too distant future a Sky & Telescope article does not cover this. Will keep you informed when we can say more about the paper submitted.

Happy Birthday in advance though I am sure there will be a huge thread on the day.

[Greg Bock (Greg Bock)]

HI Suzy,
Rest assured that I have been trying hard to find a new SN before Friday for your birthday, but, well, you know the unusual and frustrating Queensland weather right now, just impossible to to do much at all.

I did manage to image and check 140 galaxies that were taken during a brief clear spell between clouds n rain on last Monday, but nothing there for you I'm afraid.

One thing that I did find was an interesting object that appears to be a variable star, for which, i cant find any references. I'll start a new thread on that with some image details to see if anyone else can help identify it.

[Suzy]

Thanks Peter, I look forward to that article!
Meanwhile, it's supposed to be clear in Brissy from Fri thru Tues, so there's hope!

Greg, good job despite the weather.
Regarding that variable star, I'm fb friends with Sebastian Otero who is the consultant for AAVSO, let me know if I can be of some help as I can easily get in touch with him.

Now heads down, scopes up, concentration levels 100% for my birthday nova. We're looking good for weekend weather. I've already lined up a comet for my birthday (96/P Machholtz) just seeing it could prove a challenge . I'll settle for a nice b'day pic of it. We're discussing it in Celestial Events forum. Maybe you guys would be able to have a crack at it on Sat. night. .
I'm keeping you guys busy aren't I.

Peter, do you remember which issue of AS&T that article was on you? I'd love to read it again & pop a post-it bookmarker in the mag.

[madbadgalaxyman (Robert)]

Originally Posted by PeterM

We have been very honoured to have our names included with many professional astronomers on a paper that has been presented to the Astrophysical Journal. It is to do with a SN discovered last year and has some interesting ramifications for some SN types.

Wow, Pete, I am genuinely impressed! You are a published astronomer in the professional literature of our subject, and that is not easy to achieve.

You are now a worker in the world of professional astronomy, and the paper will be cited by other workers in their papers, so you will have a record of citations, as do all professional scientists!

It says a lot for your persistence, diligence, and amount of knowledge.
I think that the power of collaboration is also a significant part of your success in entering the ranks of professionally published astronomers.
(as an isolated worker, for instance, the most I have been able to achieve - so far - is a credit or two in published papers)

cheers,
Robert

P.S.
Sometimes the work of amateurs is cited by professional astronomers in their papers, even though they don't know it is. Years ago, I emailed Dennis Webb about his Arp Galaxies site, and I said to him that it must be satisfying for his site to be regularly referred to in papers written by professional astronomers.
He actually didn't know, at the time, that his work was being used by professional astronomers, as he had thought of himself as an 'amateur'.

[Greg Bock (Greg Bock)]

Hi Robert
yes, the publishing of results professionally that follow from Stu's discovery in July last year of SN2011ei in NGC6925 is the biggest news for us on the BOSS team. Until the paper is accepted for publication, we cant say much, but we are all hoping that it goes through successfully.
We were named as co-authors for our contributions to the discovery process. Stu (in New Zealand), of course, did the actual discovery, and then there were followup steps to confirm it actually existed (me at Leyburn on the night of discovery and for another 4 nights), then analysis and reporting to CBAT (Peter at home), and follow up brightness measurements (Colin at home over several nights).
As a result of our efforts to alert the professionals, they used an armada of some of the largest instruments in the world to obtain highly accurate spectral records at multiple wavelengths to build up one of the most complete and detailed wide spectrum databases of a supernova almost from the very first day of explosion. So, of course, we are all excited to be a part of this journey.

For all of us on the BOSS team, its the cherry on top, and the reason why we love to do this.

And, yes Robert, you nailed the key thing here when you said 'collaboration'. This particular event was a great example of collaboration within the BOSS team as we all played a role for the discovery, and then further collaboration over a period of months with the professional community.

Needless to say that it is tremendously satisfying for all on the BOSS team.

[Suzy]

Now- seeing as you guys have had so many SN catches in the last fortnight, is it too hard a task for you guys to nab me one on my b'day around the corner- you have till friday (I'll extend for w/end)

how'd you do it!

I just read your new thread posted today.

how'd you do it!

I didn't realise all I had to do was ask.
But I only asked yesterday
Sure don't muck around
I'm off to comment now on sn thread number....? aaargh I've lost count!