8006(  1) - 04/16/98 14:16  - [  1]

    PROPOSAL FOR HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS   ST ScI Use Only
                                                       ID:      8006
                                                       Version: 1
                                                       Check-in Date: 16-Apr-1998
                                                                      14:12:21

1.Proposal Title:
Environments of Supernovae from the HST Archive
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2. Proposal For  3. Cycle
AR               7
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4. Investigators
                                                                                     Contact?
    PI: Alex Filippenko                   University of California at Berkeley
   CoI: Aaron Barth                       University of California at Berkeley          N
   CoI: Doug Leonard                      University of California at Berkeley          N
   CoI: Weidong Li                        University of California at Berkeley          N
   CoI: Schuyler Van Dyk                  University of California, Los Angeles         N

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5. Abstract

The locations of supernovae (SNe) in the local stellar and gaseous environment in
galaxies contain important clues to their progenitor stars. Access to this
information, however, has been hampered by the limited resolution achieved by ground
-based observations. High spatial resolution images from HST of galaxy fields in
which SNe had been observed can improve the situation considerably. They provide
accurate determinations of any association of SNe with H II regions or star
clusters. In cases where multi-filter observations are available, we can determine
the local stellar environment and search for possible attenuation of the SN by dust
in the host galaxy. 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.
Finally, images of the host galaxies of high-redshift SNe provide their morphology,
and comparison with the morphology of low-redshift hosts is a critical step in
evaluating possible systematic effects in the use of SNe as cosmological distance
indicators. We plan to concentrate our Cycle 7 analysis efforts on superior post-
refurbishment images.
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  Data Distribution

  Media:           ELECTRONIC
  Blocking Factor: 10
  Ship To:         PI_Address
  Ship Via:
  Email:
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                                                8006(  1) - 04/16/98 14:16  - [  2]

            Summary Form for Proposal  8006

  Item                         Used in this proposal
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  Proposal Category            AR
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