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 PS20cni (AT2020hza) in the host galaxy WISEA J155242.29+134022.2, at a redshift of z = 0.037, or d = 159 Mpc (from NED). The transient was discovered at MJD 58960.58 (2020-04-21.58) at mag w = 21.3 +/- 0.1. It is offset from the host by 5.7" S, 7.3" E ( a projected 6.8 kpc radius from the galaxy centre). At this distance the absolute magnitude is M_w = -14.8 (assuming m-M = 36.00 and foreground exinction of A_w = 0.12). Spectroscopic classification is encouraged.
Information on all objects discovered by the "Pan-STARRS search for kilonovae" will be made available at http://star.pst.qub.ac.uk/ps1threepi/. We will release AstroNotes for all these candidates and encourage spectroscopic classification or photometric follow-up. A finder is attached.
These discoveries are a byproduct of the Pan-STARRS NEO survey observations supported by the NASA Grants, including No. NNX14AM74G issued through the SSO Near Earth Object Observations Program.
| 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 | 2020hza [PS20cni] | 15:52:42.739 | +13:40:16.39 | 15:52:42.739 | +13:40:16.39 |


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