NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2011B-0458
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2011B-0458 |
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PI: Andrew Drake, Caltech, ajd@cacr.caltech.edu
Address: CACR, 1200 E. California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
CoI: Eric Christensen, Gemini
CoI: Jose Prieto, Carnegie Observatories
CoI: Ashish Mahabal, Caltech
CoI: George Djorgovski, Caltech
CoI: Edward Beshore, LPL
CoI: Marcio Catelan, PUC de Chile
CoI: Rebecca Stoll, Ohio State Uni
Title: Lumnious Optical Transients and their Progenitors
Abstract:
For the past three years the Catalina Real-time Transient Survey
(CRTS) has been surveying tens of thousands of square degrees of the sky
for transient astrophysical events while openly publishing all
discoveries as soon as they are made. Among the more than 3000
transients discovered to date 700 are supernovae. These objects include
a distinct class of extremely energetic supernovae believed to result
from the deaths of massive stars, such as Luminous Blue Variables
(LBVs). The recent CRTS discovery of CSS100217 in an active NLS1 galaxy
has doubled the limit on the brightest and most energetic supernova
known. Such unexpected events challenge our understanding of the
environment and nature of supernovae and their hosts. The
characterization of such transients, their hosts, and their progenitors
is important to our understanding of the physics of stellar and galactic
evolution. This proposal is for spectroscopic follow-up of optical
transients including the luminous supernovae, tidal disruption events
and outbursting extra-galactic LBVs that are currently being discovered
in CRTS data.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2011B-0458 |
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