GALEX spectroscopy of SN 2005ay suggests ultraviolet spectral uniformity among Type II-P supernovae

A. Gal-Yam, F. Bufano, T. A. Barlow, E. Baron, S. Benetti, E. Cappellaro, P. J. Challis, R. S. Ellis, A. V. Filippenko, R. J. Foley, D. B. Fox, M. Hicken, R. P. Kirshner, D. C. Leonard, W. Li, D. Maoz, T. Matheson, P. A. Mazzali, M. Modjaz, K. NomotoE. O. Ofek, J. D. Simon, T. A. Small, G. P. Smith, M. Turatto, S. D. Van Dyk, L. Zampieri

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Abstract

We present the initial results from our GALEX program designed to obtain ultraviolet (UV) spectra of nearby core-collapse supernovae (SNe). Our first target, SN 2005ay in the nearby galaxy NGC 3938, is a typical member of the SN II-P subclass. Our spectra show remarkable similarity to those of the prototypical Type II-P SN 1999em, and resemble also Swift observations of the recent Type II-P SN 2005cs. Taken together, the observations of these three events trace the UV spectral evolution of SNe II-P during the first month after explosion, as required in order to interpret optical observations of high-redshift SNe II-P, and to derive cross-filter K-corrections. While still highly preliminary, the apparent UV homogeneity of SNe II-P bodes well for the use of these events as cosmological probes at high redshift.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)L117-L120
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume685
Issue number2 PART 2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2008

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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