SN 2003gd

SN 2003gd was a type II-P supernova occurring in the spiral galaxy Messier 74 in the constellation Pisces. SN 2003gd was discovered on 12 June 2003 by Robert Evans, using a 0.31m reflector, and its discovery was confirmed on 13 June 2003 by R. H. McNaught using the 1.0m telescope at the Siding Spring Observatory.[1]

SN 2003gd
Spitzer space Telescope
Other designationsSN 2003gd
Event typeSupernova 
Spectral classSN II-P
Date12 June 2003
ConstellationPisces
Right ascension01h 36m 42.65s
Declination+15° 44' 20.9
EpochJ2000.0
Galactic coordinates138.6379 -45.7477
Distance30 ± 6 Mly
HostMessier 74 (NGC 628)
Progenitor?
Progenitor typeRed supergiant
Colour (B-V)Unknown
Notable featuresN/A
Peak apparent magnitude13.2

Progenitor

Messier 74 had been observed approximately 200 days before the explosion with the Hubble Space Telescope, and about 300 days before using the Gemini Telescope. Astronomers were able to identify an object in these pre-supernova images that was in the same position as SN 2003gd, and which is believed to be the supernova's progenitor star. This progenitor star was a red supergiant, consistent with the expectations of existing single-star stellar evolution models. It is the first progenitor of a normal type II-P supernova to have ever been detected.[2][3]

References
  1. IAU Circular No. 8150, accessed April 10, 2008
  2. "First Detection of a Progenitor Star from a Normal Type II-P Supernova". Retrieved 2008-04-10.
  3. S.J. Smartt; et al. (2004). "Detection of a Red Supergiant Progenitor Star of a Type II-Plateau Supernova". Science. 303 (5657): 499–503. arXiv:astro-ph/0401235. Bibcode:2004Sci...303..499S. doi:10.1126/science.1092967. PMID 14739452.


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