SN 1972E was a supernova in the galaxy NGC 5253 that was discovered 13 May 1972 with an apparent B magnitude of about 8.5, shortly after it had reached its maximum brightness. In terms of apparent brightness, it was the second-brightest supernova of any kind (fainter only than SN 1987A) of the 20th century. It was observed for nearly 700 days, and it became the prototype object for the development of theoretical understanding of Type Ia supernovae.
The supernova was discovered by Charles Kowal,[1] about 56 arc seconds west and 85 arc seconds south of the center of NGC 5253.[2] The position in the periphery of the galaxy aided observation, minimizing interference by background objects.[3] Well-positioned for Southern Hemisphere observers, it was quite observable from Northern Hemisphere observatories as well. Attempts made to observe it in X-rays with Uhuru and OSO 7[4][5] and to detect gamma rays from it via Cherenkov radiation showers[6] gave at best equivocal results.
The extended length of the observed light curve found a remarkably uniform 0.01 magnitudes per day decline starting about 60 days after discovery. Translated into other units, this is almost exactly a 77-day half-life, which is the half-life of 56Co. In the standard model for Type Ia supernovae, approximately a solar mass of 56Ni is formed and ejected from a white dwarf which accretes mass from a binary companion and is raised over the Chandrasekhar limit and explodes. This 56Ni decays with a half-life of about 6 days to 56Co, and the decay of the cobalt provides the energy radiated away by the supernova remnant. The model also produces an estimate for the luminosity of such a supernova. The observations of SN1972e, both peak brightness and fade rate, were in general agreement with these predictions, and led to rapid acceptance of this degenerate-explosion model.[9]
^Lee, T. A.; Wamsteker, W.; Wisniewski, W. Z.; Wdowiak, T. J. (1972). "Photometry of Supernova 1972 IN NGC 5253". Astrophysical Journal. 177: L59. Bibcode:1972ApJ...177L..59L. doi:10.1086/181052.
^Jarrett, A.H. (21 Sep 1973). "The Supernova in NGC 5253". Information Bulletin on Variable Stars (828).
^Ardeberg, A.; de Groot, M. (1973). "The 1972 supernova in NGC 5253. Photometric results from the first observing season". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 28: 295–304. Bibcode:1973A&A....28..295A.
^Canzares, C. R.; Neighbours, J. E.; Matilsky, T. (1974). "A Search for X-Rays from Supernova 1972e with UHURU and OSO-7". Astrophysical Journal. 192: L61. Bibcode:1974ApJ...192L..61C. doi:10.1086/181591.
^Ulmer, M. P.; Baity, W. A.; Wheaton, W. A.; Peterson, L. E. (1 Nov 1974). "Upper limit to the X-ray flux from the supernova in NGC 5253 above 7 keV from the OSO-7". Astrophysical Journal. 193: 535–537. Bibcode:1974ApJ...193..535U. doi:10.1086/153191.
^Grindlay, J. E.; Helmken, H. F.; Brown, R. H.; Davis, J.; Allen, L. R. (1 Oct 1975). "Results of a Southern-Hemisphere search for gamma-ray sources at energies of at least 300 GeV". Astrophysical Journal. 201: 82–89. Bibcode:1975ApJ...201...82G. doi:10.1086/153861.
^Kirshner, R. P.; Oke, J. B. (15 Sep 1975). "Supernova 1972e in NGC 5253". Astrophysical Journal. 200: 574–581. Bibcode:1975ApJ...200..574K. doi:10.1086/153824.
^Osmer, P. S.; Hesser, J. E.; Kunkel, W. E.; Lasker, B. M.; McCarthy, M. F. (10 July 1972). "Optical Observations of the Supernova in NGC 5253". Nature. 238 (80): 21–22. Bibcode:1972NPhS..238...21O. doi:10.1038/physci238021a0.
^Trimble, Virginia (Oct 1982). "Supernovae. Part I: the events". Reviews of Modern Physics. 54 (4): 1183–1224. Bibcode:1982RvMP...54.1183T. doi:10.1103/RevModPhys.54.1183. S2CID 119764262.
Further readingedit
Kirshner, R. P. & Oke, J. B. Supernova 1972e in NGC 5253. Astrophysical Journal. 200. Sept. 1975, pt. 1, p. 574-581 (SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System)
Riess, Adam G. et al. Using Type IA Supernova Light Curve Shapes to Measure the Hubble Constant. Astrophysical Journal Letters. 438. Jan. 1995. *: Self Published version.
External linksedit
Light curves and spectra 2017-10-23 at the Wayback Machine on the Open Supernova Catalog
First images (1972). Photo comparisons of NGC 5253 in June 1959 then in May 1972 showing first images of the actual SN 1972e explosion near NGC 5253 (Palomar Observatory blog).
SIMBAD, SN 1972E
SN 1972E in NGC 5253 Archived 2013-06-15 at archive.today Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Oklahoma.
January 01, 1970
1972e, supernova, galaxy, 5253, that, discovered, 1972, with, apparent, magnitude, about, shortly, after, reached, maximum, brightness, terms, apparent, brightness, second, brightest, supernova, kind, fainter, only, than, 1987a, 20th, century, observed, nearly. SN 1972E was a supernova in the galaxy NGC 5253 that was discovered 13 May 1972 with an apparent B magnitude of about 8 5 shortly after it had reached its maximum brightness In terms of apparent brightness it was the second brightest supernova of any kind fainter only than SN 1987A of the 20th century It was observed for nearly 700 days and it became the prototype object for the development of theoretical understanding of Type Ia supernovae SN 1972EEvent typeSupernova SNIa ConstellationCentaurus Other designationsSN 1972E AAVSO 1334 31 edit on Wikidata Contents 1 Background 2 See also 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksBackground editThe supernova was discovered by Charles Kowal 1 about 56 arc seconds west and 85 arc seconds south of the center of NGC 5253 2 The position in the periphery of the galaxy aided observation minimizing interference by background objects 3 Well positioned for Southern Hemisphere observers it was quite observable from Northern Hemisphere observatories as well Attempts made to observe it in X rays with Uhuru and OSO 7 4 5 and to detect gamma rays from it via Cherenkov radiation showers 6 gave at best equivocal results Photometric and spectroscopic measurements were made in the visible and near infrared by many observers extending to about 700 days after maximum light 7 Interstellar absorption lines of ionized calcium due to gas both in our galaxy and NGC 5253 were observed 8 allowing an estimate of the interstellar extinction The extended length of the observed light curve found a remarkably uniform 0 01 magnitudes per day decline starting about 60 days after discovery Translated into other units this is almost exactly a 77 day half life which is the half life of 56Co In the standard model for Type Ia supernovae approximately a solar mass of 56Ni is formed and ejected from a white dwarf which accretes mass from a binary companion and is raised over the Chandrasekhar limit and explodes This 56Ni decays with a half life of about 6 days to 56Co and the decay of the cobalt provides the energy radiated away by the supernova remnant The model also produces an estimate for the luminosity of such a supernova The observations of SN1972e both peak brightness and fade rate were in general agreement with these predictions and led to rapid acceptance of this degenerate explosion model 9 See also editList of supernovae that are of historical significanceReferences edit Lee T A Wamsteker W Wisniewski W Z Wdowiak T J 1972 Photometry of Supernova 1972 IN NGC 5253 Astrophysical Journal 177 L59 Bibcode 1972ApJ 177L 59L doi 10 1086 181052 Jarrett A H 21 Sep 1973 The Supernova in NGC 5253 Information Bulletin on Variable Stars 828 Ardeberg A de Groot M 1973 The 1972 supernova in NGC 5253 Photometric results from the first observing season Astronomy amp Astrophysics 28 295 304 Bibcode 1973A amp A 28 295A Canzares C R Neighbours J E Matilsky T 1974 A Search for X Rays from Supernova 1972e with UHURU and OSO 7 Astrophysical Journal 192 L61 Bibcode 1974ApJ 192L 61C doi 10 1086 181591 Ulmer M P Baity W A Wheaton W A Peterson L E 1 Nov 1974 Upper limit to the X ray flux from the supernova in NGC 5253 above 7 keV from the OSO 7 Astrophysical Journal 193 535 537 Bibcode 1974ApJ 193 535U doi 10 1086 153191 Grindlay J E Helmken H F Brown R H Davis J Allen L R 1 Oct 1975 Results of a Southern Hemisphere search for gamma ray sources at energies of at least 300 GeV Astrophysical Journal 201 82 89 Bibcode 1975ApJ 201 82G doi 10 1086 153861 Kirshner R P Oke J B 15 Sep 1975 Supernova 1972e in NGC 5253 Astrophysical Journal 200 574 581 Bibcode 1975ApJ 200 574K doi 10 1086 153824 Osmer P S Hesser J E Kunkel W E Lasker B M McCarthy M F 10 July 1972 Optical Observations of the Supernova in NGC 5253 Nature 238 80 21 22 Bibcode 1972NPhS 238 21O doi 10 1038 physci238021a0 Trimble Virginia Oct 1982 Supernovae Part I the events Reviews of Modern Physics 54 4 1183 1224 Bibcode 1982RvMP 54 1183T doi 10 1103 RevModPhys 54 1183 S2CID 119764262 Further reading editKirshner R P amp Oke J B Supernova 1972e in NGC 5253 Astrophysical Journal 200 Sept 1975 pt 1 p 574 581 SAO NASA Astrophysics Data System Riess Adam G et al Using Type IA Supernova Light Curve Shapes to Measure the Hubble Constant Astrophysical Journal Letters 438 Jan 1995 Self Published version External links editLight curves and spectra Archived 2017 10 23 at the Wayback Machine on the Open Supernova Catalog First images 1972 Photo comparisons of NGC 5253 in June 1959 then in May 1972 showing first images of the actual SN 1972e explosion near NGC 5253 Palomar Observatory blog SIMBAD SN 1972E SN 1972E in NGC 5253 Archived 2013 06 15 at archive today Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Oklahoma Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title SN 1972E amp oldid 1184361280, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
