Supernova PSN J20435357+1230517 in NGC 6956: image and spectroscopy
PSN J20435357+1230517 in NGC 6956: 27 Aug. 2013
As part of its scientific activities, the Virtual Telescope provides follow-up of supernova candidates.
On 27 Aug. 2013, the PlaneWave 17″ unit was slewed to NGC 6956, locating the suspect PSN J20435357+1230517 and confirming it to the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams.
The image above comes from the average of 5, 120-seconds exposures and the transient is marked by two white lines. The star was at mag. 15.6R (unfiltered).
The following night, 28 Aug. 2013, the Celestron C14 unit managed to capture a spectrum. 10, 300-seconds exposures were averaged providing the plot below. The object was embedded with the 1st order spectrum of a close star, this is why its o-order is not narrow. The spectrum of the transient shows a clear absorption at the Si II wavelength, this suggesting it is a type Ia supernova. RSpec was used to plot the spectrum.
PSN J20435357+1230517 in NGC 6956: spectrum
The discovery of the Si II absorption and the consequent classification of the transient as a type Ia supernova was officially announced as SN 2013fa on CBET 3641.
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