The Disappearance of the Progenitors of Supernovae 1993J and 2003gd
Publication date: 25 April 2009
Authors: J.R. Maund and S.J. Smartt
Journal: Science
Volume: 324
Issue: 5926
Page: 486-488
Year: 2009
Copyright: AAAS
Using images from the Hubble Space Telescope and the Gemini Telescope, we confirmed the disappearance of the progenitors of two type II supernovae (SNe) and evaluated the presence of other stars associated with them. We found that the progenitor of SN 2003gd, an M-supergiant star, is no longer observed at the SN location and determined its intrinsic brightness using image subtraction techniques. The progenitor of SN 1993J, a K-supergiant star, is also no longer present, but its B-supergiant binary companion is still observed. The disappearance of the progenitors confirms that these two supernovae were produced by red supergiants.
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