Title: The Unusually Luminous Extragalactic Nova SN 2010U Authors: Ian Czekala (Harvard University), E. Berger, R. Chornock, A. Pastorello, G. H. Marion, R. Margutti, M. T. Botticella, P. Challis, M. Ergon, S. Smartt, J. Sollerman, J. Vinkó, J. C. Wheeler
We present observations of the unusual optical transient SN 2010U, including spectra taken 1.03 days to 15.3 days after maximum light that identify it as a fast and luminous Fe II type nova. Our multi-band light curve traces the fast decline (t_2 = 3.5 days) from maximum light (M_V = -10.2 mag), placing SN 2010U in the top 0.5% of the most luminous novae ever observed. We find typical ejecta velocities of approximately 1100 km/s and that SN 2010U shares many spectral and photometric characteristics with two other fast and luminous Fe II type novae, including Nova LMC 1991 and M31N-2007-11d. For the extreme luminosity of this nova, the maximum magnitude vs. rate of decline relationship indicates a massive white dwarf progenitor with a low pre-outburst accretion rate. However, this prediction is in conflict with emerging theories of nova populations, which predict that luminous novae from massive white dwarfs should preferentially exhibit an alternate spectral type (He/N) near maximum light.
Title: SN2010U -- a Luminous Nova in NGC 4214 Authors: Roberta M. Humphreys, Jose L. Prieto, Philip Rosenfield, L. Andrew Helton, Christopher S. Kochanek, K. Z. Stanek, Rubab Khan, Dorota Szczygiel, Karen Mogren, Robert A. Fesen, Dan Milisavljevic, Benjamin Williams, Jeremiah Murphy, Julianne Dalcanton, Karoline Gilbert
The luminosity, light curve, post--maximum spectrum, and lack of a progenitor on deep pre-outburst images suggest that SN 2010U was a luminous, fast nova. Its outburst magnitude is consistent with that for a fast nova using the Maximum Magnitude-Rate of Decline relationship for classical novae.
Confirmed: A magnitude 16.3 supernova, 2010U, was discovered by K. Itagaki on the 5th February, 2010, in the galaxy NGC4214 in the constellation Canes Venatici. The supernova is located 20" East and 27" North from the center of the galaxy. As yet the type is unknown.
A possible magnitude 16 supernova was discovered on the 5th February, 2010, in the barred irregular galaxy NGC4214 in the constellation Canes Venatici. The supernova is located 20" East and 27" North from the center of the galaxy.