Supernova 2002ao in UGC 9299

This page is devoted to information on Supernova 2002ao in UGC 9299 Basic information on this SN, including the last reported brightness, on this Supernova can be found on the main page.  Information on the original web pages for many of these images can be found on the updates and links web pages.

Yet another LOTOSS discovery. This one is a little strange.  It rose rapidly to Magnitude 13.1, then in the space of 3 days, dropped down to Mag 16.  Rapid drops like this are very rare.  The spectrum of this thing appears to be type Ic, but that is not certin.  We have a DSS Photometry reference image made by Odd Trondal.  Icon generated from the Doug West image.

Web pages dedicated to this SN.
• AAVSO has a 2002ao page.
• AUDE has a 2002ao page in French [Translate]
• VSNET 2002ao summary page

The following is a list of images of this SN, in chronological order. Click on the name in the "observer" column to see the image. Times and dates are in UT unless otherwise noted. If you know of any others, please tell me!

Image Credit	Date	Mag	Filter	Comments
LOTOSS image	2002/01/25.5	14.3	C	Discovery
Doug West image	2002/02/27.489	15:	C
JM Llapasset image	2002/01/29.184	14.8	CR
J. Nicolas image	2002/02/08.131	16.2	CR
JM Llapasset image	2002/02/13.207	16.3	CR
J. Nicolas image	2002/02/22.084	17.0:	CR

Light curves and Spectra:
• Wise Observatory Spectrum
• Aude Measurements and light curve.
• VSNET Light curve (requires JAVA).

Other VSNet data on this SN (which will be copied here until VSNET gets it archive working again):
• [vsnet-campaign-sn 326] SN 2002ao in UGC 9299

  Dear SN watchers,

  The KAIT team has discovered a brightest SN in this year so far. It is now mag about 14.8, and can reach mag 13.4 if it is of type Ia.

  IAUC 7809 informed that the discovery was made on Jan. 25.5 UT when a new object was mag about 14.3 (unfiltered CCD). It was confirmed by the Beijing team at mag 14.7 on Jan 26.9 and by D. West at mag 14.83Rc on Jan. 27.492. The position is: R.A. = 14h29m35s.74, Decl. = -0o00'55".8 (2000.0), which is about 16" east and 10" north of the diffuse nucleus of the tilted open-spiral (SAB(s)d pec) galaxy UGC 9299. It superimposed on the outer disk region.

  There are two galaxies (1' WSW and 1'.5 south of the nucleus) around UGC 9299, but they are far beyond (v_r \sim 25000 km/s). The recession velocity of UGC 9299 is 1552 km/s (NED) and there are many galaxies having similar recession velocities within 5 degrees. If this velocity is of the Hubble flow, the expected maximum of a typical SN Ia is mag about 13.4. The followup photometry and the spectroscopic type determination is strongly urged for this bright SN.

  Sincerely Yours,
  Hitoshi Yamaoka, Kyushu Univ., Japan
  yamaoka@rc.kyushu-u.ac.jp

• [vsnet-campaign-sn 339] Re: SN 2002ao in UGC 9299

  Dear SN watchers,

  I wrote in [vsnet-campaign-sn 326]:

  >The recession velocity of UGC 9299 is 1552 km/s (NED) and there are
  >many galaxies having similar recession velocities within 5 degrees.
  >If this velocity is of the Hubble flow, the expected maximum of a
  >typical SN Ia is mag about 13.4.  The followup photometry and the
  >spectroscopic type determination is strongly urged for this bright SN.
  

  IAUC 7810 informed that a spectrum of SN 2002ao (Gal-Yam and Shemeer, Tel Aviv Univ., taken at Wise Observatory) shows a blue continuum with broad features, which cannot be identified with Si, He, or H. They quoted the resemblance with type IIb SN 1996cb around maximum. Further observation is needed.

  Sincerely Yours,
  Hitoshi Yamaoka, Kyushu Univ., Japan
  yamaoka@rc.kyushu-u.ac.jp

• [vsnet-campaign-sn 348] SN 2002ao suddenly faded!

  Dear SN watchers,

  The recent report of the magnitude of SN 2002ao suggest that it has experienced sudden and large amplitude fading in these days.

    20020128.708  14.96Ic  (Seiichiro Kiyota)
    20020129.183  148CR  (Jean Marie Llapasset)
    20020129.197   136  (Jose Ripero)
    20020205.036   138  (Maciej Reszelski)
    20020208.131  162CR  (J. Nicolas)
  

  , and Llapasset informed that she confirmed the fading, and it is 163CR on Feb. 13.

  Such fading is very unusual for supernovae, and it will be able to explain the dramatic change in the spectra, or the uncertain nature of this SN. Further observation with any technique are highly recommended.

  Sincerely Yours,
  Hitoshi Yamaoka, Kyushu Univ., Japan
  yamaoka@rc.kyushu-u.ac.jp