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[vsnet-chat 1077] Amateur Spectrum of M96 Supernova
- Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 17:20:43 -0400
- To: ISN Chat <isn_chat@mbox.queen.it>
- From: "Steve H. Lucas" <76620.1721@compuserve.com>
- Subject: [vsnet-chat 1077] Amateur Spectrum of M96 Supernova
- Cc: Oleg Bartunov <oleg@sai.msu.su>, Bob Bunge <rbunge@access.digex.com>, Harold Corwin <hgcjr@ipac.caltech.edu>, "D.D.Balam" <COSMOS@UVVM.UVIC.CA>, Dave Eicher <deicher@astronomy.com>, David Levy <70721.1706@compuserve.com>, Alister Ling <watcher@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca>, Brian Marsden <marsden@cfa.harvard.edu>, Tom Polakis <polakis@indirect.com>, Robert Reeves <rreeves@connecti.com>, vsnet-chat <vsnet-chat@kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp>, Peter Williams <pfwiliams@onaustralia.com.au>, Barbara Wilson <bwilson2@ix.netcom.com>, Bill Wren <wren@astro.as.utexas.edu>
- Sender: owner-vsnet-chat@kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Supernovae Fans:
The plight of the amateur supernovae hunter verifying suspects as
supernovae has been an ongoing dilemna since the initiation of individual
efforts, and/or conscientious search programs have been conducted. The
excitement of an added star has prompted visual, or photographic
confirmatory requests from collegues or associates. If one was lucky enough
to forge a liason with a professional astronomer or institution to assist
in imaging the suspect with a large telescope, this was definetely a plus.
Or better still....to have a spectrograph of the suspect taken to
determine, by its signature, that the object was indeed a bonifide
supernova event. From personal experience the "behind the scenes" activity
to properly verify an added star in a extra-galactic starfield as a
supernova, or determine that it is a false alarm can be quite a bittersweet
experience.
I have, at this time, the extreme pleasure to announce that an amateur
astronomer has, using his vast knowledge and dedication, created a
CCD-powered spectrograph that CAN determine the prominent signature of a
bright type Ia supernova.....I believe that this the first time I have seen
ingenuity of this type used that could very well be a plus to the amateur
SNe hunter.
This fellows name is Maurice Gavin of Surry, the United Kingdom. Maurice
has granted permission to post an spectrum+tracing of the supernova in M96,
taken on May 19, 1998, which was discovered by Mirko Villi (Italy) ON the
International Supernovae Network Home Page.
(http://vsnet.supernovae.org/isn.htm).
The image displays the prominent absorption trough (~6150) associated with
identifying a type Ia supernova, plus a few other details.
The equipment used was a 30cm f/10 SCT+spectrograph+SX-M CCD device. Mr.
Gavin mentioned (private correspondance) that he is experimenting with
other techniques and associated upgrades to assist in characterizing other
types of supernovae events.....
Take a look, you won't be disappointed. Mr. Gavin's address is asssociated
with the image in the event you have further questions. So SNe hunters lets
try to "bag" a nice bright type II event?<g>
Cheers,
Steve H. Lucas
International Supernovae Network
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