NOAO >   Observing Info >   Approved Programs >   2012B-0500

# Program Information for 2012B-0500

PI: Michael Wood-Vasey, U. of Pittsburgh, wmwv@pitt.edu
Address: Physics Department, 3941 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260 USA

CoI: Peter Garnavich, U. of Notre Dame
CoI: Thomas Matheson, NOAO
CoI: Saurabh W Jha, Rutgers U.
CoI: Armin Rest, STScI
CoI: Lori Allen, NOAO
CoI: Anja Weyant, U. of Pittsburgh
CoI: Howie Marion, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
CoI: Nabila Jahan, U. of Pittsburgh
CoI: Brandon Patel, Rutgers U.

Title: Type Ia Supernovae in the Near-Infrared: A Three-Year Survey toward a One Percent Distance Measurement with WIYN+WHIRC

Abstract: We propose to observe 144 SNeIa in the near infrared (NIR) with 72 nights of WIYN+WHIRC in the 6 semesters of 2012B--2015A. Our goal is to create an infrared Hubble diagram extending from .02<z<0.1$to verify out to cosmological distances recent evidence that SNIa are excellent standard candles in the NIR. Assuming a conservative estimate of the observed intrinsic dispersion in$H\$ of 0.15~mag, 144 SNeIa will allow us to make a distance measurement of 1\% at 300 Mpc. We will more extensively observe 30 of the nearest SNeIa to obtain detailed late-time light curves to measure SNIa color evolution in the near infrared where dust extinction is significantly reduced. In addition these NIR data will allow us to {\bf (1)} Explore the recent correlation between optical luminosity and host galaxy mass; {\bf (2)} Improve our understanding of intrinsic colors of SNeIa; {\bf (3)} Compare high- resolution NIR spectra and photometry; {\bf (4)} Study the nature of dust in galaxies beyond our Milky Way. This data set will provide a solid anchor for measuring luminosity distances in the Universe. Survey status will enable the required planning and organization for this large effort to most efficiently obtain the large number of SNeIa necessary for this precision distance measurement and to best coordinate with other complementary observations.

Program Type: Survey

Scheduled Nights:
Run 1 (2012B):  WIYN/WHIRC -- 8n on Sep 25 2012, Oct 01 2012, Oct 07 2012, Oct 28 2012, Nov 02 2012, Nov 22 2012, Nov 25 2012, Nov 30 2012
Run 1 (2013A):  WIYN/WHIRC -- 10n on Mar 21 2013, Mar 26 2013, Apr 20 2013, Apr 25 2013, Apr 29 2013, May 19 2013, May 23 2013, May 28 2013, Jun 13 2013, Jun 17 2013
Run 1 (2013B):  WIYN/WHIRC -- 10.5n on Sep 25 - Sep 27 2013, Oct 10 2013, Oct 15 2013, Oct 18 - Oct 20 2013, Oct 25 2013, Nov 11 2013, Nov 16 2013, Nov 20 2013, Dec 09 2013, Dec 13 2013
Run 1 (2014A):  WIYN/WHIRC -- 20n on Mar 13 - Mar 14 2014, Mar 18 - Mar 19 2014, Mar 23 2014, Mar 26 2014, Apr 08 - Apr 09 2014, Apr 13 - Apr 14 2014, Apr 18 - Apr 19 2014, Apr 30 2014, May 05 2014, May 10 - May 14 2014, May 18 2014, May 23 2014, May 30 2014, Jun 03 2014, Jun 06 2014, Jun 09 2014
Run 1 (2014B):  WIYN/WHIRC -- 13.5n on Oct 11 - Oct 12 2014, Oct 16 2014, Oct 27 2014, Nov 02 2014, Nov 06 2014, Nov 27 - Nov 28 2014, Dec 05 2014, Dec 16 2014, Dec 19 2014, Dec 26 - Dec 27 2014, Dec 31 - Jan 04 2015
Run 1 (2015A):  WIYN/WHIRC -- 13n on Mar 13 2015, Mar 23 2015, Mar 28 2015, Mar 31 2015, Apr 02 2015, Apr 05 2015, Apr 08 - Apr 11 2015, Apr 24 - Apr 27 2015, Apr 29 - May 01 2015, May 03 2015
Run 1 (2015B):  WIYN/WHIRC -- 3n on Oct 04 2015, Oct 30 2015, Nov 29 2015
Run 1 (2016A):  WIYN/WHIRC -- 4.5n on Mar 30 - Mar 31 2016, Apr 26 2016, May 14 - May 15 2016
Run 1 (2017A):  WIYN/WHIRC -- 1.5n on Mar 19 2017, May 07 2017

National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360

 NOAO >   Observing Info >   Approved Programs >   2012B-0500