DRAFT
2020-08-19 20:50:59
Type: Object/s-Discovery/Classification
Bibcode: 2020TNSAN.159....1S
Pan-STARRS Search for Kilonovae: discovery of an intrinsically faint transient in 2MFGC 512 (185 Mpc)
Authors: S. Srivastav, S. J. Smartt, K. W. Smith (QUB), K. C. Chambers, M. Huber (IfA, Hawaii), O. McBrien, D. R. Young, J. Gillanders, D. O'Neill, P. Clark, S. Sim (QUB), T. de Boer, J. Bulger, J. Fairlamb, C.-C. Lin, T. Lowe, E. Magnier, A. Schultz, R. J. Wainscoat, M. Willman (IfA), T.-W. Chen (Stockholm), D. E. Wright (University of Minnesota), C. Stubbs (Harvard), A. Rest (STScI)
Source Group: Pan-STARRS
Keywords: Supernova, Transient
Abstract:
We are carrying out the "Pan-STARRS Search for Kilonovae" which is a focused search for intrinsically faint transients, or rapidly evolving transients in galaxies which are closer than 200 Mpc in the ongoing Pan-STARRS Near Earth Object surveys (see Smartt et al. AstroNote 2019-48 for details).  Here we report the discovery of an intrinsically faint transient PS20gtm (AT2020rqu) in the host galaxy 2MFGC 512, at a redshift of z = 0.044, or d = 185 Mpc (from NED).  Its discovery magnitude (MJD = 59071.55) is i = 19.64 +/- 0.10, and hence an absolute magnitude of M_i = -16.73 +/- 0.20.

We are carrying out the "Pan-STARRS Search for Kilonovae" which is a focused search for intrinsically faint transients, or rapidly evolving transients in galaxies which are closer than 200 Mpc in the ongoing Pan-STARRS Near Earth Object surveys (see Smartt et al. AstroNote 2019-48 for details). 

In normal survey mode, Pan-STARRS takes 4 x 45s exposures in w, i or z each night reaching 5 sigma magnitudes of w<22, i<21 and z<20.5 in each frame (see Chambers et al. 2016, 1612.05560). 

We report the discovery of an intrinsically faint transient PS20gtm (AT2020rqu) in the host galaxy 2MFGC 512, at a redshift of z = 0.044, or d = 185 Mpc (from NED). The transient was discovered at MJD 59071.55 (2020-08-10.55) at mag i = 19.64 +/- 0.10. It is offset from the host by 5.7" S, 5.2" W ( a projected 6.2 kpc radius from the galaxy centre). At this distance the absolute magnitude is M_i = -16.73 (assuming m-M = 36.34 and foreground exinction of  A_i = 0.029). Spectroscopic classification is encouraged. 

We will release AstroNotes for all these candidates and encourage spectroscopic classification or photometric follow-up.  A finder is attached. 

The discoveries from this program are a byproduct of the Pan-STARRS NEO survey observations. Operation of the Pan-STARRS1 and Pan-STARRS2 telescopes is primarily supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under Grant No. NNX12AR65G and Grant No. NNX14AM74G issued through the SSO Near Earth Object Observations Program. Data are processed at Queen's University Belfast enabled through the STFC grants ST/P000312/1 and ST/T000198/1. 

 

Show current TNS values
Catalog Name Reported RA Reported DEC Reported Obj-Type Reported Redshift Host Name Host Redshift Remarks TNS RA TNS DEC TNS Obj-Type TNS Redshift
TNS 2020rqu [PS20gtm] 00:41:55.346 -31:41:58.49 00:41:55.346 -31:41:58.49
AstroNote Publication Timestamp Title Authors
2019-48 2019-07-20 17:37:13 Pan-STARRS Search for Kilonovae : discovery of an intrinsically faint transient in UGC 12798 (68 Mpc) S. J. Smartt, (Queen's University Belfast), K. C. Chambers, (IfA, University of Hawaii) K. W. Smith (QUB), M. Huber (IfA), S. Srivastav, O. McBrien, D. R. Young, J. Gillanders, D. O'Neil, P. Clark, S. Sim, (QUB), T. de Boer, J. Bulger, J. Fairlamb, C.-C. Lin, T. Lowe, E. Magnier, A. Schultz, R. J. Wainscoat, M. Willman (IfA), T.-W. Chen (MPE), D. E. Wright (University of Minnesota), C. Stubbs (Harvard), A. Rest (STScI)
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2020rqu_finder.jpeg finder

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