List of supernova candidates

This is a list of supernova candidates, or stars that astronomers have suggested are supernova progenitors. Type II supernova progenitors include stars with at least 10 solar masses that are in the final stages of their evolution. (Prominent examples of stars in this mass range include Antares, Spica,[1] Gamma Velorum,[2] Mu Cephei, and members of the Quintuplet Cluster.[3]) Type Ia supernova progenitors are white dwarf stars that are close to the Chandrasekhar limit of about 1.44 solar masses and are accreting matter from a binary companion star. The list includes massive Wolf–Rayet stars, which may become Type Ib/Ic supernovae.

This is an incomplete list that may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.
Supernova progenitor candidates
Identifier Epoch J2000 Constellation Distance
(light years)		 Spectral
class		 Notes
R. A. Dec.
IK Pegasi 21h 26m 26.7s +19° 22′ 32″ Pegasus 150 A8m:/DA [4][5]
Alpha Lupi 14h 41m 56s –47° 23′ 17″ Lupus 550 B1.5[6]
Antares 16h 29m 24s –26° 25′ 55″ Scorpius 600 M1.5Iab-b [7]
Betelgeuse 05h 55m 10.3s +07° 24′ 25″ Orion 640 M2Iab [1][8]
Gamma2 Velorum 08h 09m 32.0s −47° 20′ 12″ Vela 800 WC8 [9]
Rigel 05h 14m 32.3s –08° 12′ 06″ Orion 860 B8Ia [10]
Pi Puppis 7h 17m 08s –37° 05′ 51″ Puppis 1,100 K3 Ib
119 Tauri 05h 32m 12.8s +18° 35′ 40″ Taurus 1,700 M2Iab-Ib
RS Ophiuchi 17h 50m 13.2s –06° 42′ 28″ Ophiuchus 1,950–5,200 M2III/D [11][12]
T Coronae Borealis 15h 59m 30.2s +25° 55′ 13″ Corona Borealis 2,000 M3III/D [13]
Mu Cephei 21h 43m 30.5s +58° 46′ 48″ Cepheus 2400 M2Ia [14]
T Pyxidis 09h 04m 41.5s −32° 22′ 48″ Pyxis 3,260 [15][16]
WR 142 20h 21m 44.3s +37° 32′ 31″ Cygnus 4,000 WO2
VY Canis Majoris 07h 22m 58.3s −25° 46′ 03″ Canis Major 4,900 M5eIa [8][17]
NML Cygni 20h 46m 25.6s +40° 06′ 59.4″ Cygnus 5,300 M6I [18]
P Cygni 20h 17m 47.2s +38° 01′ 59″ Cygnus 6,000 B1Ia+
Eta Carinae 10h 45m 03.6s −59° 41′ 04″ Carina 7,000–8,000 LBV [19][20]
HD 168625 18h 21m 19.5s −16° 22′ 26″ Sagittarius 7,200 B6Ia [21]
WR 104 18h 02m 04.1s –23° 37′ 41″ Sagittarius 8,000 WC9d/OB [22][23]
IRC+10420 19h 26m 48.1s +11° 21′ 17″ Aquila 10,000–23,000 F8Ia+ [24][25]
Rho Cassiopeiae 23h 54m 23.0s +57° 29′ 58″ Cassiopeia 12,000 G2Ia0e [26]
Wray 17-96 17h 41m 35s –30° 06′ 39″ Scorpius 15,000 B3
Sher 25 11h 15m 07.8s −61° 15′ 17″ Carina ~20,000 B1.5Iab [27]
HD 179821 19h 13m 58.6s +00° 07′ 32″ Aquila 20,000 G5Ia [28][29]
V445 Puppis 07h 37m 56.9s –25° 56′ 59″ Puppis 27,000 [30]
U Scorpii 16h 22m 30.7s –17° 52′ 42″ Scorpius 39,000 [31]
KPD 1930+2752 19h 32m 14.9s +27° 58′ 35″ Cygnus sdB/D [nb 1][32][33]

Notes

  1. ↑ The Kitt Peak Downes star.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Supernova Remnants and Neutron Stars, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 2005-08-02, retrieved 2006-06-08
  2. ↑ Kaler, James B., "Regor", Stars (University of Illinois), retrieved 2007-01-08
  3. ↑ Lloyd, Robin (2006-09-04), Strange Space Pinwheels Spotted, space.com, retrieved 2007-01-08
  4. ↑ Samuel, Eugenie (2002-05-23), Supernova poised to go off near Earth, New Scientist, retrieved 2007-01-12
  5. ↑ Tzekova, S. Y. et al. (2004), IK Pegasi (HR 8210), ESO, retrieved 2007-01-12
  6. ↑ "Big and Giant Stars: Alpha Lupi". Jumk.de. Retrieved 2013-01-03.
  7. ↑ "What will happen when Antares explodes?". Disassociated.com. 2009-01-13. Retrieved 2013-01-03.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Smith, Nathan; Hinkle, Kenneth H.; Ryde, Nils (March 2009). "Red Supergiants as Potential Type IIn Supernova Progenitors: Spatially Resolved 4.6 μm CO Emission Around VY CMa and Betelgeuse". The Astrophysical Journal 137 (3): 3558–3573. arXiv:0811.3037. Bibcode:2009AJ....137.3558S. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/137/3/3558.
  9. ↑ Beech, Martin (December 2011), "The past, present and future supernova threat to Earth's biosphere", Astrophysics and Space Science 336 (2): 287–302, Bibcode:2011Ap&SS.336..287B, doi:10.1007/s10509-011-0873-9
  10. ↑ Moravveji, Ehsan; Guinan, Edward F.; Shultz, Matt; Williamson, Michael H.; Moya, Andres (March 2012), "Asteroseismology of the nearby SN-II Progenitor: Rigel. Part I. The MOST High-precision Photometry and Radial Velocity Monitoring", The Astrophysical Journal 747 (1): 108–115, arXiv:1201.0843, Bibcode:2012ApJ...747..108M, doi:10.1088/0004-637X/747/2/108
  11. ↑ Than, Ker (2006-07-19), Mystery of Explosive Star Solved, space.com, retrieved 2007-01-08
  12. ↑ Staff (2006-07-25), Astronomers See Future Supernova Developing, SpaceDaily, retrieved 2006-12-01
  13. ↑ "Recurrent Novae as a Progenitor System of Type Ia Supernovae. I. RS Ophiuchi Subclass: Systems with a Red Giant Companion - Abstract - The Astrophysical Journal - IOPscience". Iopscience.iop.org. 2008-12-19. Retrieved 2013-01-03.
  14. ↑ Lloyd, Robin (2006-09-04). "Strange Space Pinwheels Spotted". space.com. Retrieved 2007-01-08.
  15. ↑ Schaefer, Bradley E.; Pagnotta, Ashley; Shara, Michael M. (January 2010). "The Nova Shell and Evolution of the Recurrent Nova T Pyxidis". The Astrophysical Journal 708: 381–402. arXiv:0906.0933. Bibcode:2010ApJ...708..381S. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/708/1/381.
  16. ↑ Edwards, Lin (2010). "Massive white dwarf in our galaxy may go supernova". PhysOrg. Retrieved 2010-02-26.
  17. ↑ Weaver, D.; Humphreys, R. (2007-01-08). "Astronomers Map a Hypergiant Star's Massive Outbursts". HubbleSite NewsCenter. Retrieved 2007-01-16.
  18. ↑ Monnier, J. D.; Millan‐Gabet, R.; Tuthill, P. G.; Traub, W. A.; Carleton, N. P.; Coude Du Foresto, V.; Danchi, W. C.; Lacasse, M. G.; Morel, S.; Perrin, G.; Porro, I. L.; Schloerb, F. P.; Townes, C. H. (2004). "High‐Resolution Imaging of Dust Shells by Using Keck Aperture Masking and the IOTA Interferometer". The Astrophysical Journal 605: 436. arXiv:astro-ph/0401363. Bibcode:2004ApJ...605..436M. doi:10.1086/382218.
  19. ↑ van Boekel, R.; Schöller, M.; Herbst, T. (2003-11-18). "Biggest Star in Our Galaxy Sits within a Rugby-Ball Shaped Cocoon". European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO). Retrieved 2007-01-08.
  20. ↑ Milan, Wil (2000-03-07). "Possible Hypernova Could Affect Earth". space.com. Retrieved 2007-01-06.
  21. ↑ Smith, Nathan (March 2007). "Discovery of a Nearby Twin of SN 1987A's Nebula around the Luminous Blue Variable HD 168625: Was Sk -69 202 an LBV?". The Astronomical Journal 133 (3): 1034–1040. arXiv:astro-ph/0611544. Bibcode:2007AJ....133.1034S. doi:10.1086/510838.
  22. ↑ Tuthill, Peter G.; et al. (March 2008). "The Prototype Colliding-Wind Pinwheel WR 104". The Astrophysical Journal 675 (1): 698–710. arXiv:0712.2111. Bibcode:2008ApJ...675..698T. doi:10.1086/527286.
  23. ↑ Kaler, Jim (1999-04-09). "WR 104: Pinwheel Star". Astronomy Picture of the Day. Retrieved 2007-01-08.
  24. ↑ Jones, Terry Jay; et al. (July 1993). "IRC +10420 - A cool hypergiant near the top of the H-R diagram". Astrophysical Journal, Part 1 411 (1): 323–335. Bibcode:1993ApJ...411..323J. doi:10.1086/172832.
  25. ↑ Than, Ker (2004-10-04). "Astronomers Demonstrate a Global Internet Telescope". University of Manchester. Retrieved 2007-01-08.
  26. ↑ Staff (2003-01-31). "The William Herschel telescope finds the best candidate for a supernova explosion". Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
  27. ↑ Smartt, S. J.; Lennon, D. J.; Kudritzki, R. P.; Rosales, F.; Ryans, R. S. I.; Wright, N. (September 2002). "The evolutionary status of Sher 25 - implications for blue supergiants and the progenitor of SN 1987A". Astronomy and Astrophysics 391 (3): 979–991. arXiv:astro-ph/0205242. Bibcode:2002A&A...391..979S. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20020829.
  28. ↑ Jura, M.; Velusamy, T.; Werner, M. W. (2001-06-05). "What next for the Likely Pre-Supernova, HD 179821?". American Astronomical Society. Retrieved 2007-01-08.
  29. ↑ Josselin, E.; Lèbre, A. (2001). "Probing the post-AGB nature of HD 179821". Astronomy and Astrophysics 367 (3): 826–830. Bibcode:2001A&A...367..826J. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20000496.
  30. ↑ Woudt, P. A.; et al. (November 2009). "The Expanding Bipolar Shell of the Helium Nova V445 Puppis". The Astrophysical Journal 706 (1): 738–746. arXiv:0910.1069. Bibcode:2009ApJ...706..738W. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/706/1/738.
  31. ↑ Thoroughgood, T. D.; Dhillon, V. S.; Littlefair, S. P.; Marsh, T. R.; Smith, D. A. (2002). "The recurrent nova U Scorpii -- A type Ia supernova progenitor". The Physics of Cataclysmic Variables and Related Objects 261. San Francisco, CA: Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Bibcode:2002ASPC..261...77T. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  32. ↑ Maxted, P. F. L.; Marsh, T. R.; North, R. C. (September 2000). "KPD 1930+2752: a candidate Type Ia supernova progenitor". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 317 (3): L41–L44. arXiv:astro-ph/0007257. Bibcode:2000MNRAS.317L..41M. doi:10.1046/j.1365-8711.2000.03856.x.
  33. ↑ Kanipe, Jeff (2000-08-05). "Skywatch—Watch This Space!". space.com. Retrieved 2007-01-06.