Spectroscopic classification of five optical transients in the Pan-STARRS1 3Pi Faint Galaxy Supernova Survey.

ATel #4516; D. Wright, T.-W. Chen, M. Fraser, S. J. Smartt, R. Kotak, L. Magill, M. McCrum, K. Smith (Queen's University Belfast), S. Valenti(LCOGT/UCSB), F. Bresolin, R. Kudritzki, J. Tonry, E. Magnier, M. Huber, K. Chambers, N. Kaiser, J. Morgan, W. Burgett, J. Heasley, W. Sweeney, C. Waters, H. Flewelling (University of Hawaii), C. Stubbs (Harvard), P. A. Price (Princeton)
on 25 Oct 2012; 15:33 UT
Credential Certification: Morgan Fraser (mfraser02@qub.ac.uk)

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Further to Valenti et al. (ATels #2668, #3351) we report the discovery and spectroscopic confirmation of two SNe, two QSOs and a variable star in the Pan-STARRS1 3Pi Faint Galaxy Supernova Survey.

PS1-12bwa (02:56:04.40 +00:56:01.3) was discovered on 06 Oct 2012 at r=20.00 (in PS1 system ; see Tonry et al. 2012, ApJ, 745, 42), offset by 0.66" from the galaxy SDSS J025604.44+005601.6 (g=21.54). This is the CRTS source CSS121013:025604+005601. A spectrum obtained on 22 Oct 2012 at the William Herschel Telescope with ISIS (range 350-950nm) and fitted using the "Supernova Identification" code (SNID; Blondin and Tonry 2007, ApJ, 666, 1024), shows it to be a normal type Ia supernova around peak at z=0.09.

PS1-12bwh (07:09:24.29 +39:06:15.8) was discovered at g=18.02 on 17 Oct 2012, offset from the galaxy CGCG 205-021 (g=14.79). Fits to a spectrum obtained on 22 Oct 2012 at the WHT+ISIS (range 350-950nm) suggests matches to SN2008ae and other SN2002cx/SN2008ha-like SNe (see Valenti et al. 2009, Nature 459, 674-677; Sahu et al. 2008, ApJ, 680, 580; Foley et al. 2009, AJ, 138, 376) around peak with z=0.025 consistent with the measured redshift of the host galaxy (z=0.023). The classification is supported by the presence of low velocity features and an absolute magnitude at discovery of ~ -17.

PS1-12bwe (07:51:59.27 +46:16:37.4) was discovered on 15 Oct 2012 at r=19.7, coincident with the galaxy SDSS J075159.26+461637.4. A spectrum obtained on 22 Oct 2012 at the WHT+ISIS (range 350-900nm), shows a blue continuum with the detection of broad emission features at 407.9, 632.5 and 709.0nm, consistent with MgII, H-gamma and H-beta respectively at z=0.46. The SDSS colours are also suggestive of a QSO.

PS1-12bvy (01:00:12.13 +06:10:37.1) was found at z=19.14 coincident with the stellar source SDSS J010012.14+061037.2 (g=21.38) on 02 Aug 2012. A spectrum obtained on 22 Oct 2012 at the WHT+ISIS (range 350-900nm), shows a blue continuum with the detection of broad emission features at 683.4, 465.7 and 380.4nm consistent with MgII, CIII and CIV respectively at z=1.44. The SDSS colours are also suggestive of a QSO.

PS1-12bwr (08:08:53.73 +35:50:53.7) was discovered on 18 Oct 2012 at r=16.6 coincident with the stellar source SDSS J080853.72+355053.7 (g=19.65). This is the CRTS source CSS080416:080854+355053. A spectrum obtained on 22 Oct 2012 at the WHT+ISIS (range 350-900nm) shows a blue continuum with a weak emission line of H-alpha and absorption consistent with H-beta, H-gamma and H-delta at rest wavelength. This suggests the transient is a CV, although the SDSS colours were suggestive of a QSO.

This discovery was enabled using the PS1 System operated by the PS1 Science Consortium (PS1SC) and its member institutions, http://ps1sc.org/PS1_System_ATel.shtml. We would like to thank the PS1 telescope operators for their support of PS1 observations.