Sunday, June 4, 2023

SN 2023ixf early photometry

This supernova just exploded in the galaxy M101, just 6 Mpc away, making it the closest supernova since SN 2011fe. Research groups around the world are scrambling to conduct analyses of this object. Some have already started popping up on arXiv.

arXiv:

We present the early-stage analysis of the low-resolution (R=1000) optical spectra and the near-infrared light curves of the bright Type II supernova (SN II) 2023ixf in the notable nearby face-on spiral galaxy M101, which are obtained since t=1.7 until 8.0 d.

Compared with SNe II showing the flash-ionized features, we suggest that this SN could be categorized into high-luminosity SNe II with a nitrogen/helium-rich circumstellar material (CSM), e.g., SNe 2014G, 2017ahn, and 2020pni. 

These observational facts support that SN 2023ixf is well consistent with a high-luminosity SN II with the dense nitrogen/helium-rich CSM.

It's great to see the comparisons to previous objects. 23ixf doesn't have too many remarkable qualities aside from some very early flash features (and its proximity), but it's difficult to find good comparisons since we really don't get to observe SNe early this often.

Thermal vacuum testing for the Europa Clipper

NASA (via YouTube ): We'll be back soon. The spacecraft is currently undergoing vacuum testing. I was a huge fan of the livestream for b...