Light Curve of SN2014J
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Campus where you would like to present
SURC Ballroom C/D
Start Date
15-5-2014
End Date
15-5-2014
Keywords
SN2014J, Light Curve, Type Ia Supernova
Abstract
On January 21, 2014, during an undergraduate teaching lesson, observers at the University of London discovered a supernova in Messier 82 approximately 11 million light years away. This supernova, identified as SN2014J, is classified as a type Ia supernova which occurs when a white dwarf accretes sufficient mass from its companion star to undergo fusion in its carbon-oxygen core. This sudden onset of fusion releases more energy than our Sun will in its entire lifetime in a time frame of months, and destroys the white dwarf. Furthermore, type Ia supernovae play the crucial role of a standard candle that is used to define and measure the cosmic distance scale. Photometric data collection for SN2014J with the Central Washington University Observatory 0.3m telescope started on January 31, 2014 when the supernova had reached its peak brightness and will continue until SN2014J is too dim to distinguish from its host galaxy. Data was collected with Kron-Cousins visible band (V) and infrared band (I) filters. After reducing the raw images and performing differential photometry measurements, a light curve was constructed that shows SN2014J decreasing in brightness as time progresses. When combined with data obtained by other observers, the resulting light curves can contribute to understanding how type Ia supernovae evolve and change as a function of time.
Recommended Citation
Berghoff, Hans, "Light Curve of SN2014J" (2014). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 10.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2014/posters/10
Poster Number
4
Additional Mentoring Department
Physics
Light Curve of SN2014J
SURC Ballroom C/D
On January 21, 2014, during an undergraduate teaching lesson, observers at the University of London discovered a supernova in Messier 82 approximately 11 million light years away. This supernova, identified as SN2014J, is classified as a type Ia supernova which occurs when a white dwarf accretes sufficient mass from its companion star to undergo fusion in its carbon-oxygen core. This sudden onset of fusion releases more energy than our Sun will in its entire lifetime in a time frame of months, and destroys the white dwarf. Furthermore, type Ia supernovae play the crucial role of a standard candle that is used to define and measure the cosmic distance scale. Photometric data collection for SN2014J with the Central Washington University Observatory 0.3m telescope started on January 31, 2014 when the supernova had reached its peak brightness and will continue until SN2014J is too dim to distinguish from its host galaxy. Data was collected with Kron-Cousins visible band (V) and infrared band (I) filters. After reducing the raw images and performing differential photometry measurements, a light curve was constructed that shows SN2014J decreasing in brightness as time progresses. When combined with data obtained by other observers, the resulting light curves can contribute to understanding how type Ia supernovae evolve and change as a function of time.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Braunstein, Michael