Supernova 1999cl in M88
Supernova 1999cl occurred in Virgo Cluster spiral galaxy M88 on May 28,
1999 and was discovered one day later at magnitude 16.4. It reached
magnitude 13.4..13.5 on June 12, 1999.
As this is a type Ia supernova, and situated in the
Virgo Cluster of Galaxies, it may be of great
interest in gauging this galaxy cluster’s distance, and thus also the
scale of our intergalactic neighborhood, and the whole observable
universe.
If our assumed relative distance scale should be correct, one can make a
preliminary estimate:
Both supernova 1999cl and 1998bu in
M96 are of same type (Ia), and thus should
be of same absolute luminosity. Therefore, as M96 is a factor of about
1.6 closer to us than the Virgo Cluster and presumably M88, SN 1999cl
should stay a factor of about 2.5 times, or one magnitude, fainter than
SN 1998bu. As 1998bu became magnitude 11.8..11.9, the new supernova should
be expected not to exceed a magnitude of 12.8..12.9.
Otherwise, either M88 would be closer to us than the 60 million light years
assumed here, or 1999cl was brighter than 1998bu – and thus probably not of
the same type.
This supernova was discovered by the
Supernova Search team on May 29, 1999. Later Jeff MacQuarrie found
that he had obtained a pre-discovery image of SN 1999cl one day earlier.
.. more to come soon ..
- More images of supernova 1999cl
-
Supernova 1999cl discovery announce
(IAU Circular 7185) - Jeff MacQuarrie’s
prediscovery images
-
KAIT/LOSS discovery page
-
Index of Images of Supernova 1999cl in M88
-
Supernova 1999cl Resources
by David Bishop - Messier Galaxies and their Supernovae
and Supernovae in Messier Catalog
Galaxies pages
Last Modification: 15 June 1999, 23:00 MET