A small segment (size: 6 arcmin × 6 arcmin) of a single image (integration time of 102 seconds) obtained with ILMT is shown. The location of SN 2023af is marked with a white crosshair. Credit: arXiv (2023). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2311.05618
A newly built International Liquid Mirror Telescope (ILMT) in India has identified its first supernova, designated SN 2023af. The discovery, reported November 8 on the preprint server arXivproves that ILMT may be able to detect hundreds of new supernovae in the years to come.
Supernovae (SNe) are powerful and luminous stellar explosions that could help us better understand the evolution of stars and galaxies. Astronomers divide supernovae into two groups based on their atomic spectra: Type I and Type II. Type I SNes lack hydrogen in their spectra, while type II SNes exhibit hydrogen spectral lines.
ILMT is a 4 m diameter zenith-pointing telescope located at the Devasthal Observatory in Nainital, India. It is entirely dedicated to carrying out photometric/astrometric surveys using direct imaging. Astronomers hope that ILMT will help them detect many new transient objects such as supernovae from gamma-ray bursts. The telescope saw its first light on April 29, 2022 and is currently in the advanced stages of commissioning.
Today, a team of astronomers led by Brajesh Kumar of the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) in India, reports that the ILMT spotted its first supernova on March 9, 2023, SN 2023af, initially detected two months earlier. The team carried out follow-up observations of SN 2023af using the ILMT, as well as the 3.6m Devasthal Optical Telescope (DOT) and the 1.3m Devasthal Fast Optical Telescope (DFOT).
“During the ILMT commissioning phase, supernova (SN) 2023af was identified in the ILMT field of view. The SN was subsequently monitored with ILMT and DOT facilities,” the researchers wrote.
The team obtained a light curve of SN 2023af extending up to 110 days after its discovery. The first ILMT results show that hydrogen lines are clearly visible and that metallic lines also appear in the spectrum of this supernova.
Based on the light curve and spectral characteristics of SN 2023af, the authors of the paper assume that it is a Type IIP supernova. In general, type II-Plateau (SNe IIP) supernovae remain bright (on a plateau) for an extended period after their maximum. This plateau in the light curve of a standard SN IIP typically lasts about 100 days.
Both SNe IIP and SN 2023af are hypothesized to originate from precursor stars that retain a substantial amount of their hydrogen layers (greater than three solar masses) before exploding as core collapse supernovae (CCSNe).
However, the astronomers added that additional observations of SN 2023af are needed to confirm its Type IIP classification. They explained that a definitive conclusion about the length of the plateau of this supernova is not possible at the moment due to the lack of data.
Summarizing the results, the researchers noted that future ILMT observations will provide a unique opportunity to discover and study different types of supernovae each year, leading to the detection of hundreds of new stellar explosions.
More information:
Brajesh Kumar et al, ILMT tracking strategy discovered supernovae, arXiv (2023). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2311.05618
Journal information:
arXiv
© 2023 Science X Network
Quote: New Indian telescope identifies its first supernova (November 24, 2023) retrieved on November 25, 2023 on
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from fair use for private study or research purposes, no part may be reproduced without written permission. The content is provided for information only.
