[vsnet-chat 58] Re: supernova progenitor candidates

[Fraser Farrell <fraserf@dove.net.au>]

G'day all,

On 1997-02-10 tkato@kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp said to all:
   >Yamaoka Hitoshi wrote:
   >> I guess that the best candidate among the brightest (m_v < 2.5)
   >>stars  is Betelgeuse, but the time of the explosion event is not
   >>certain: it  can be today, but it can also be after about a
   >million years.

After reading Taichi's recent successes in predicting EG Cnc outbursts I
would expect him to know the moment of SN Betelgeuse to the hour. <g>

   >Encouraged to hear this!  This star then well deserves observer's
   >nightly visit -- as well as other SRc variables.  If one can visit
   >1000 SRc variables, there may be a chance to catch a supernova
   >explosion in 1000 years -- am I right?   I wonder what the

The same idea is used by supernova searchers - look at 1000+ galaxies
each night; and you will probably find a supernova.

   >How about LMC/SMC stars?  Is there any systematic monitoring
   >program? What target selection?  How about the Orion Nebula stars?

Believe me, after SN 1987A _everyone_ down here is watching the Clouds
every clear night!  Excuse me, the sky has again cleared momentarily so
I shall look outside...

<Opens back door, walks into the garden, looks up and admires the view.
As the clouds return, walks back to the computer>

No supernovae brighter than magnitude 5.6 in the LMC or SMC tonight.
Eta Car hasn't exploded either - now there's an SN I would like to watch
happen.  But what could I use for comparison stars?  Car headlights?? <g>.

   >> From the table of the binaries in _Chronological Scientific Tables
   >> (Rika Nenpyo, Japan)_, 32 Cyg A is K1I supergiant and has 23 solar
   >> mass. It should be doubtless to say that it will go supernova next
   >> one million years.
   >Thank you!  I will add this star to my visual monitoring program
   ><g>. Hoping the exposion is detected before the binary is engulfed
   >by the blast.

Add Alpha Sco, Zeta Sco, Plaskett's Star and every SDOR to your list too.
Somewhere Out There a neutrino pulse and a mighty flash of light are
hurtling towards us...!


cheers,

Fraser Farrell
Variable Stars Group
Astronomical Society of South Australia

WWW: http://vsnet.gist.net.au/assa/   email: fraserf@dove.net.au
traditional:  GPO Box 199, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia

VSNET Home Page

Return to Daisaku Nogami

---

vsnet-adm@kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp