ASTRONOMICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Supernova Research is available through the

International Astronomical Search Collaboration

This project is currently inactive at ARO

ABELL SUPERNOVA RESEARCH

Type Ia Supernova just prior to detonation!

Image courtesy of  Don Dixon

SUPERNOVA RESEARCH PROJECT

The Abell Supernova Research Project is just that.  We "re-search" the same Abell galaxy clusters over and over again for the appearance of "new stars" that have exploded with the brilliance of a 100 billion stars in a single instant!    This is an extremely difficult project to undertake because the opportunities of discovery are so few.   The last star known to explode in our galaxy occurred about 300 years ago.  It is estimated that a supernova explodes in our Milky Way galaxy once or twice every century.  Statistics for a typical nearby supernova search show that a researcher should discover a new supernova once every 3,000 to 6,000 images.  Our numbers should prove to be a bit different than standard nearby supernova searches.   Our search for supernovae take us out one step farther than nearby supernova searches.  Our goal is to find exploding stars in redshift range of z =0.04 to 0.12.  A typical nearby supernova search looks for supernova within the redshift range of less than z =0.04.  On the average, a single image using the 24 inch telescope will result in the detection of 88 galaxies.  Using techniques like image subtraction, our teams can effectively search more galaxies per night per image.  Additionally, we have the ability to detect supernovae to the unfiltered magnitude 20.8.  

Students and teachers who are involved in this research project will be searching recent galaxy images (just hours old) by downloading them from an FTP site to their computer.  This project may be undertaken as an individual student or as a team of students.  One of the fascinating aspects of this project is the opportunity to view the unique structure and beauty of different galaxies.  We will provide the images you need to search for these elusive dying stars.  Another advantage of this type of research is students will receive recognition for each new supernova discovery.  

Supernova 2006bu  Discovered by R. Holmes, H. Devore and B.Graves

International Astronomical Union Circular  8707

z = 0.079125  

Use this link for additional images

Supernova 2006bg discovered by V. Hoette and R. Holmes

International Astronomical Union Circular  8697

z = 0.057800  

Use this link for additional images

Supernova 2006bi  Discovered by R. Holmes, H. Devore and P. Miller

International Astronomical Union Circular  8697

z = 0.061500

Use this link for additional images

- Overview -

It is extremely important to have clear dark steady skies for detailed imaging.   Images are uploaded each night to a specified FTP site for access to qualified teacher and student researchers.  Methods of detection include both blinking and image subtraction. 

All that is required to conduct this type of research in astronomy is a standard personal computer  with a processor speed of at least 300 mhz and 30 megabytes of free hard disk space.  You will also need a connection to the internet to download new images. 

Why Look for Supernovae?

The discovery of supernovae has vast implications as distance indicators for professional astronomers.  Supernova scientists want to study the more rare Type Ia supernovae because they tend to explode with nearly the same intrinsic brightness.  This characteristic makes these objects an excellent tool for measuring very large distances for two main reasons.

    ·         Supernovae are very bright and they can be seen over enormous distances

    ·          Supernovae type Ia peak luminosities are relatively consistent

Amateur astronomers today can contribute significantly to the really big questions concerning theoretical and observational cosmology.   It appears from recent studies by astronomers like Robert Kirschner, that supernovae research has overturned the assumption that the universe  is slowing down by the effects of gravity.  It appears to be actually speeding up as it expands from its beginning with the "Big Bang"

How to Study Supernovae

The number of galaxies you look at will determine how successful you will be as a supernova researcher.  If you look at one image of a galaxy, you are not nearly as likely to make a supernova discovery than another researcher who looks at 10,000.  Statistically, the number of supernova you will discover is directly proportional to the number of galaxies you search.   Searching for supernovae involves a certain amount of luck and good technical knowledge to be successful. 

Learning how to find supernova by using already discovered objects is very important.  You must first know what a supernova looks like before you can pick one out of a series of images.  In addition you can submit your own measurements to VSNET (Variable Star Network).  Those who discover supernovae will find their discovery in the IAU Circulars.   Apart from contributing your supernova data to science, you will also learn in the process exactly what supernovae look like on a CCD image.   You might also consider submitting your own photometry to these groups for creating a light curve of a supernova over a period of time.   This will teach you how accurate your calculations are in reference to supernova that have already discovered.

The hard part of the Supernova Research Project is comparing the galaxy images.  It is tedious time consuming work.  It can take up to an hour and a half to blink through 75 galaxy images.  We provide the reference galaxy images you need to evaluation recent data in search of supernova.  

Getting Started

The Astronomical Research Institute will supply you with everything you need to be a student supernova researcher including a detailed Supernova Research Manual.  We will also help you get the software you need to blink your images and access to recent data so you can hunt for supernova in distant galaxies with the real possibility of making a discovery. 

From time to time we image already discovered supernova in galaxies for reference purposes and you may use these images in astronomy classes  to show what a supernova really looks like.  

This is an ARI Supernova Search Article in Citizen Scientist Magazine outlining various aspects of the Abell supernova search for participating high schools and universities.