A New Supernova Discovery/Classification
D. A Howell (LCOGT/UCSB), P. E. Nugent (LBL), M. Sullivan (Oxford), A. Gal-Yam (Weizmann Institute)
The Type Ia supernova science working group of the Palomar Transient Factory (ATEL#1964) reports the discovery of the Type Ia supernova PTF10ygu at RA=09:37:30.30, Dec=+23:09:33.6 (J2000) in the host galaxy NGC 2929 at z=0.025. The supernova was discovered on Oct. 12.5 UT when it was at magnitude 19.2 in R-band (calibrated wrt the USNO catalog). There was nothing at this location on Oct 8.5 UT to a limiting magnitude of 20.3, and a marginal detection (S/N=5) at R=19.6 on Oct. 11.5 UT. Since then it has risen to R=18.7 on Oct. 13.5 UT. A spectrum of PTF10ygu was taken on Gemini North on October 13 UT. It reveals that the SN was observed at around -15 days before maximum light, possibly earlier. The blueshift of the SiII 6355 feature indicates velocities in excess of 20,000 km/s, among the highest ever seen for non-detached features in a SN Ia. STIS/UV spectroscopic observations on the Hubble Space Telescope were triggered by the ToO program "Towards a Physical Understanding of the Diversity of Type Ia Supernovae" (PI: R. Ellis) and by Swift with the ToO program "Unveiling New Classes of Transients with Palomar Transient Factory" (PI: S. Kulkarni). We strongly encourage additional follow-up of this source at all wavelengths.
optical,supernovae,transient,request for observations