PTF observations of SN2012aw (PTF12bvh) and explosion date constraints
ATel #3996; Dovi Poznanski (Tel Aviv), Peter E. Nugent (LBNL & Berkeley), Eran O. Ofek, Avishay Gal-Yam (Weizmann), Mansi M. Kasliwal (Carnegie Observatories) report for the PTF collaboration
on 23 Mar 2012; 09:48 UT
Credential Certification: Eran Ofek (eran@wise.tau.ac.il)
Subjects: Optical, Supernovae
Referred to by ATel #: 4033
The PTF (ATEL #1964, #3253; http://www.astro.caltech.edu/ptf/ ; Law et al. 2009, PASP, 121, 1395; Rau et al. 2009, PASP, 121, 1334) reports observations of SN2012aw (Fagotti 2012, CBET #3054), which we designate internally as PTF12bvh. The SN is well detected on two images taken on March 17.18 at an R
band magnitude of ~14.1 (calibrated relative to USNO-B1), with an uncertain systematic offset due to strong light contamination by the planet Mars. Our latest non-detection dates March 15.27 where the SN is absent to a 3 sigma limit of R ~ 20.7. This entails a brightening of over 6.6 mag in about 48 hours and should constrain the explosion date, when combined with other reported measurements of the SN.
