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Discovery of an IR echo from a supernova dust cloud

Nature volume 304, pages 709–710 (1983)Cite this article

Abstract

Supernova (SN) 1982g in NGC1332 was discovered by Maza on 28 March 1982 at mpg=14.0 (ref. 1) some 30kpc (Ho = 50 km s−1 Mpc−1) from the nucleus of the parent galaxy (distance, 30Mpc; type, SO)2. No other optical data have been reported so the SN type is uncertain, although no Type II SN has ever been identified in a galaxy earlier than SA3. We have obtained IR light curves for SN 1982g covering 100–250 days after its discovery. We show here that the IR radiation is due to heated dust. No evidence has been found for grain condensation in the SN ejecta. In fact, the light curves reveal that the IR emission originates from a pre-existing circumstellar dust cloud and is produced by an ‘echo’ of the UV and visible pulse of the SN.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Astronomy Group, Physics Department, Imperial College of Science and Technology, Prince Consort Road, London, SW7 2BZ, UK

    J. R. Graham, W. P. S. Meikle & M. J. Selby

  2. Anglo-Australian Observatory, PO Box 296, Epping, New South Wales, 2121, Australia

    D. A. Allen

  3. Department of Physics, University of Keele, Keele, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK

    A. Evans & G. Pearce

  4. Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, 87545, USA

    M. F. Bode

  5. United Kingdom Infrared Telescope, 900 Leilani Street, Hilo, Hawaii, 96720, USA

    A. J. Longmore & P. M. Williams

Authors
  1. J. R. Graham
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  2. W. P. S. Meikle
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  3. M. J. Selby
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  4. D. A. Allen
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  5. A. Evans
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  6. G. Pearce
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  7. M. F. Bode
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  8. A. J. Longmore
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  9. P. M. Williams
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Graham, J., Meikle, W., Selby, M. et al. Discovery of an IR echo from a supernova dust cloud. Nature 304, 709–710 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/304709a0

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