Supernova 1954J (Variable 12) in NGC 2403 unmasked

Schuyler D. Van Dyk; Alexei V. Filippenko; Ryan Chornock; Weidong Li; Peter M. Challis

doi:10.1086/430238

Supernova 1954J (Variable 12) in NGC 2403 unmasked

Schuyler D. Van Dyk^*, Alexei V. Filippenko, Ryan Chornock, Weidong Li, Peter M. Challis

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

We have confirmed that the precursor star of the unusual supernova 1954J (also known as Variable 12) in NGC 2403 survived what appears to have been a superoutburst, similar to the 1843 Great Eruption of η Carinae in the Galaxy. The apparent survivor has changed little in brightness and color over the last 8 years, and a Keck spectrum reveals characteristics broadly similar to those of η Car. This is further suggested by our identification of the actual outburst-surviving star in high-resolution images obtained with the Advanced Camera for Surveys on the Hubble Space Telescope. We reveal this "supernova impostor" as a highly luminous (M _V ⁰ ≈ -8.0 mag), very massive (M _initial ≳ 25 M _⊙) eruptive star, now surrounded by a dusty (A _V ≈ 4 mag) nebula, similar to η Car's famous Homunculus.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	553-562
Number of pages	10
Journal	Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Volume	117
Issue number	832
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/430238
State	Published - Jun 2005
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1086/430238

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title = "Supernova 1954J (Variable 12) in NGC 2403 unmasked",

abstract = "We have confirmed that the precursor star of the unusual supernova 1954J (also known as Variable 12) in NGC 2403 survived what appears to have been a superoutburst, similar to the 1843 Great Eruption of η Carinae in the Galaxy. The apparent survivor has changed little in brightness and color over the last 8 years, and a Keck spectrum reveals characteristics broadly similar to those of η Car. This is further suggested by our identification of the actual outburst-surviving star in high-resolution images obtained with the Advanced Camera for Surveys on the Hubble Space Telescope. We reveal this {"}supernova impostor{"} as a highly luminous (M V 0 ≈ -8.0 mag), very massive (M initial ≳ 25 M ⊙) eruptive star, now surrounded by a dusty (A V ≈ 4 mag) nebula, similar to η Car's famous Homunculus.",

author = "{Van Dyk}, {Schuyler D.} and Filippenko, {Alexei V.} and Ryan Chornock and Weidong Li and Challis, {Peter M.}",

year = "2005",

month = jun,

doi = "10.1086/430238",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "117",

pages = "553--562",

journal = "Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific",

issn = "0004-6280",

publisher = "University of Chicago",

number = "832",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Supernova 1954J (Variable 12) in NGC 2403 unmasked

AU - Van Dyk, Schuyler D.

AU - Filippenko, Alexei V.

AU - Chornock, Ryan

AU - Li, Weidong

AU - Challis, Peter M.

PY - 2005/6

Y1 - 2005/6

N2 - We have confirmed that the precursor star of the unusual supernova 1954J (also known as Variable 12) in NGC 2403 survived what appears to have been a superoutburst, similar to the 1843 Great Eruption of η Carinae in the Galaxy. The apparent survivor has changed little in brightness and color over the last 8 years, and a Keck spectrum reveals characteristics broadly similar to those of η Car. This is further suggested by our identification of the actual outburst-surviving star in high-resolution images obtained with the Advanced Camera for Surveys on the Hubble Space Telescope. We reveal this "supernova impostor" as a highly luminous (M V 0 ≈ -8.0 mag), very massive (M initial ≳ 25 M ⊙) eruptive star, now surrounded by a dusty (A V ≈ 4 mag) nebula, similar to η Car's famous Homunculus.

AB - We have confirmed that the precursor star of the unusual supernova 1954J (also known as Variable 12) in NGC 2403 survived what appears to have been a superoutburst, similar to the 1843 Great Eruption of η Carinae in the Galaxy. The apparent survivor has changed little in brightness and color over the last 8 years, and a Keck spectrum reveals characteristics broadly similar to those of η Car. This is further suggested by our identification of the actual outburst-surviving star in high-resolution images obtained with the Advanced Camera for Surveys on the Hubble Space Telescope. We reveal this "supernova impostor" as a highly luminous (M V 0 ≈ -8.0 mag), very massive (M initial ≳ 25 M ⊙) eruptive star, now surrounded by a dusty (A V ≈ 4 mag) nebula, similar to η Car's famous Homunculus.

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DO - 10.1086/430238

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:22544450476

VL - 117

SP - 553

EP - 562

JO - Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific

JF - Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific

SN - 0004-6280

IS - 832

ER -

Supernova 1954J (Variable 12) in NGC 2403 unmasked

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