11248(  1) - 03/30/07 11:06  - [  1]

                  HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVING PROGRAM 11248

Version: 1    Check-in Time: 30-Mar-2007 15:05:55       STScI Edit Number: 0

Title
The Local Environments of Supernovae
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Type             Cycle     Parallel Pointing Tolerance
AR               16        <none>
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Investigators
                                                                                     Contact?
    PI: Dr. Alex V. Filippenko            University of California - Berkeley
   CoI: Dr. Schuyler D. Van Dyk           Jet Propulsion Laboratory                     N
   CoI: Dr. Weidong Li                    University of California - Berkeley           N
   CoI: Dr. Xiaofeng Wang                 University of California - Berkeley           N

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Abstract

The locations of supernovae (SNe) in the local stellar and gaseous environment in
galaxies, as measured in high spatial resolution WFPC2 and ACS images, contain
important clues to their progenitor stars. They provide accurate determinations of
any association of SNe with H II regions or star clusters. Since multi-filter
observations are generally available, we can determine the local stellar population,
setting constraints on the mass of the progenitor; we can also search for possible
attenuation of the SN by dust in the host galaxy by studying the colors of the stars
in its environment. By checking the fields for background sources, we can correct
the existing SN light curves and luminosities if necessary. When a SN has been
observed incidentally, information can be gained on its optical and UV emission.
Deep HST images can be used to find light echoes of SNe, as well as recover SNe
interacting with circumstellar material at very late times. A direct search for the
progenitor stars of SNe can be made in pre-existing HST images of their locations;
as the number of archival HST images steadily increases, along with the number of
newly discovered SNe, positive identifications become progressively more likely. In
Cycle 16, we plan to extend our successful work from previous cycles. This proposal
is complementary to our Cycle 16 survey proposal, whose primary purpose is to obtain
late-time photometry of SNe. It is also complementary to our Cycle 16 ToO proposal,
which is designed to pinpoint the locations of recent SNe to help determine their
progenitor stars.
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