SkyShot - Volume 1, Issue 1: Autumn 2020
The inaugural issue of SkyShot, an online publication for promoting understanding and appreciation for outer space. As an international community, we share the work of undergraduate and high school students through a multidisciplinary, multimedia approach. Features research papers, astrophotography, informative articles, guides, and poetry in astronomy, astrophysics, and aerospace.
The inaugural issue of SkyShot, an online publication for promoting understanding and appreciation for outer space. As an international community, we share the work of undergraduate and high school students through a multidisciplinary, multimedia approach. Features research papers, astrophotography, informative articles, guides, and poetry in astronomy, astrophysics, and aerospace.
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SkyShot Autumn 2020
Photometric and Spectroscopic
Analysis of the Type II-P Supernova
SN 2019hyk
Sofia Fausone
Healdsburg High School
Timothy Francis Hein
Los Altos High School
Anavi Uppal
Windermere Preparatory School
Zihang Wang
Webb School of California
Dated: August 2, 2019
Abstract
Over a period of four weeks, we performed spectroscopy and BVRI color photometry on SN 2019hyk, a
supernova located in galaxy IC 4397. Using the telescopes at Yale University’s Leitner Family Observatory
and on iTelescope.net, we took images throughout July 2019 to generate a light curve of the supernova.
After evaluating the shape of the light curve and the emission spectrum, we conclude that SN 2019hyk is a
type II-P supernova.
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The discovery, observation, and analysis of supernovae
provide us with valuable insight into the processes
and physics behind these events. Supernovae are largely
responsible for distributing heavy metals throughout
space, and are used as standard candles for measuring
cosmological distances. Investigations into supernovae
not only deepen our understanding of stellar physics, but
also reveal information about the broader structure of
the universe.
SN 2019hyk is located in the galaxy IC 4397, a type Sbc
galaxy with an absolute magnitude of 13.2 [2]. Discovered
in 1889 in the Bootes constellation, the galaxy is about
203 million light years away from Earth [3].
We used both spectroscopy and photometry to
study the supernova. The former provides information
on emission and absorption lines, and the latter provides
instrumental magnitudes. After color-correcting instrumental
magnitudes to apparent magnitudes, we created
a light curve which provides information on the supernova’s
classification when compared to models of known
supernovae.
The current system for the classification of supernovae
was established in 1940 by Fritz Zwicky and Walter Baade
in the 1940s, and it is beginning to show signs of old age.
The discovery of superluminous supernovae (SLSN) and
their awkward subdivisions under Zwicky and Baade’s
classification system show that this system is outdated.
The different classifications of supernovae do not have
clear relations with each other. In order to remake the
current supernova classification system, it is imperative
that we study more supernovae [5]. To this end, our team
decided to study SN 2019hyk.
Figure 1: SN 2019hyk
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