Supernova 2010ah

Abstract

E. O. Ofek, D. A. Howell, M. M. Kasliwal, A. Gal-Yam, J. S. Bloom, P. Nugent, M. Sullivan, R. Quimby, S. B. Cenko, D. Poznanski, and S. R. Kulkarni, on behalf of the Palomar Transient Factory'' collaboration, report their discovery of a young, broad-line type-Ic supernova (magnitude R = 18.8) on Feb. 23.504 UT. The new object, designated 2010ah, is located at R.A. = 11h44m02s.99, Decl. = +55o41'27.6 (equinox 2000.0), which is about 5’'.2 from the galaxy SDSS J114402.98+554122.5 in p.a. 7 deg. Nothing is visible at this position in previous images of the same field taken on Feb. 19.439 (limiting magnitude R about 20.9). A spectrum obtained by the queue observing team (courtesy of the Gemini telescope staff) at the Gemini-North telescope on Mar. 2, reduced and typed by Howell using the superfit spectrum fitting code, resembles that of SN 1998bw at about three days prior to maximum light (Galama et al. 1998, Nature 395, 670), and shows very broad lines. SN 2010ah is at z = 0.0498, based on the O II, H-alpha, H-beta, and S II emission lines from the host galaxy. A multi-wavelength follow-up campaign is ongoing.

Publication
Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams