Bibcode
Hendry, M. A.; Smartt, S. J.; Maund, J. R.; Pastorello, A.; Zampieri, L.; Benetti, S.; Turatto, M.; Cappellaro, E.; Meikle, W. P. S.; Kotak, R.; Irwin, M. J.; Jonker, P. G.; Vermaas, L.; Peletier, R. F.; van Woerden, H.; Exter, K. M.; Pollacco, D. L.; Leon, S.; Verley, S.; Benn, C. R.; Pignata, G.
Bibliographical reference
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume 359, Issue 3, pp. 906-926.
Advertised on:
5
2005
Citations
118
Refereed citations
100
Description
We present photometric and spectroscopic data of the Type II-P supernova
(SN II-P) 2003gd, which was discovered in M74 close to the end of its
plateau phase. SN 2003gd is the first Type II supernova (SN) to have a
directly confirmed red supergiant (RSG) progenitor. We compare SN 2003gd
to SN 1999em, a similar SN II-P, and estimate an explosion date of 2003
March 18. We determine a reddening towards the SN of E(B-V) = 0.14 +/-
0.06, using three different methods. We also calculate three new
distances to M74 of 9.6 +/- 2.8, 7.7 +/- 1.7 and 9.6 +/- 2.2Mpc. The
former was estimated using the standard candle method (SCM), for Type II
supernovae (SNe II), and the latter two using the brightest supergiants
method (BSM). When combined with existing kinematic and BSM distance
estimates, we derive a mean value of 9.3 +/- 1.8Mpc. SN 2003gd was found
to have a lower tail luminosity compared with other normal Type II-P
supernovae (SNe II-P) bringing into question the nature of this SN. We
present a discussion concluding that this is a normal SN II-P, which is
consistent with the observed progenitor mass of
8+4-2 Msolar.