Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2006-10-13
Astrophys.J.652:512-517,2006
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
19 pages, 4 postscript figures, 3 tables, accepted for publication in the ApJ
Scientific paper
10.1086/507826
We identify a light echo candidate from Hubble Space Telescope (HST) imaging of NGC 2441, the host galaxy of the Type Ia supernova 1995E. From the echo's angular size and the estimated distance to the host galaxy, we find a distance of 207 +/- 35 pc between the dust and the site of the supernova. If confirmed, this echo brings the total number of observed non-historical Type Ia light echoes to three -- the others being SN 1991T and SN 1998bu -- suggesting they are not uncommon. We compare the properties of the known Type Ia supernova echoes and test models of light echoes developed by Patat et al. (2005). HST photometry of the SN 1991T echo shows a fading which is consistent with scattering by dust distributed in a sphere or shell around the supernova. Light echoes have the potential to answer questions about the progenitors of Type Ia supernovae and more effort should be made for their detection given the importance of Type Ia supernovae to measurements of dark energy.
Della Valle Massimo
Garnavich Peter M.
Li Wangrong
Panagia Nino
Quinn Jason L.
No associations
LandOfFree
A Light Echo from Type Ia Supernova 1995E? does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with A Light Echo from Type Ia Supernova 1995E?, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and A Light Echo from Type Ia Supernova 1995E? will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-89609