PTF discovers and follows-up nearby, young, Type II supernova
ATel #2862; M. M. Kasliwal, R. M. Quimby, E. O. Ofek, S. R. Kulkarni (CIT), A. Gal-Yam, I. Arcavi, Y. Green (WIS), E. Walker, P. Mazzali (INAF/SNS Pisa), P. E. Nugent, D. Poznanski (LBNL), D. A. Howell, B. Dilday (LCOGT) and D. B. Fox (PSU) report on behalf of the "Transients in the Local Universe" and "Core-Collapse Supernovae" working groups of the Palomar Transient Factory
on 23 Sep 2010; 21:28 UT
Distributed as an Instant Email Notice Transients
Credential Certification: Mansi Manoj Kasliwal (mansi@astro.caltech.edu)
Subjects: Radio, Optical, Ultra-Violet, X-ray, Supernovae, Transient
On UT 2010 Sep 15.243, the Palomar Transient Factory discovered an optical transient, PTF10vdl at RA(J2000) = 23:05:49.001 and DEC(J2000)=03:31:20.50 near NGC 7483.
We obtained Target Of Opportunity spectra with Gemini-S/GMOS (PI Kasliwal) on Sep 16.29. The spectrum was extremely blue (f_nu proportional to nu^4.5) and nearly featureless. We further obtained a spectrum with the TNG/DOLORES (PI Walker) on Sep 17.40 and P-Cygni profiles of four Balmer lines were clearly visible, consistent with the redshift of NGC 7483, suggesting this is a Type II supernova.
At discovery, the transient was R=19.6 and it has been rising (e.g. R=19.0 on Sep 19.273). This currently corresponds to an absolute magnitude in R-band of -13.7. Multi-band photometric follow-up with the Palomar 60-inch, WISE observatory and LCOGT is ongoing.
We triggered UV and X-ray follow-up with the Swift Observatory. On Sep 18.3, we detect PTF10vdl at U=17.5, UVW1=17.5, UVM2=17.4 and UVW2=17.6. We are continuing monitoring with Swift/UVOT.
We thank the Gemini and SWIFT observatories for prompt scheduling of these observations.
