Lick Observatory Photographic Supernova Spectra

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Seventy-eight photographic spectra of 18 bright supernovae that were obtained by various observers at the Lick Observatory between 1937 and 1971 are presented and brieÑy discussed. Microphotometer transmission tracings of the photographic plates have been digitized and plotted on a common scale with a linear wavelength axis. The spectra were prismatic, with a nonlinear dispersion, in their original form. These spectra are useful for classiÐcation purposes and for comparative studies of the blueshifts of absorption features.

A review of type Ia supernova spectra

“…However, resolving this spectroscopic dilemma is primarily dependent on the wavelength and temporal coverage of the observations and traces back to the pioneering work of McLaughlin (1963) who studied spectra of the type Ib supernova, SN 1954A, in NGC 4214 (Wellmann 1955;Branch 1972;Blaylock et al 2000;Casebeer et al 2000). Contrary to previous interpretations that supernova spectra were the result of broad, overlapping emission features (Gaposchkin 1936;Humason 1936;Baade 1936;Walter and Strohmeier 1937;Minkowski 1939;Payne-Gaposchkin and Whipple 1940;Zwicky 1942;Baade et al 1956), it was D. B. McLaughlin who first began to repeatedly entertain the idea that "absorption-like" features were present 8 in regions that "lacked emission" (McLaughlin 1959(McLaughlin , 1960(McLaughlin , 1963.…”

“…The Online Supernova Spectrum Archive (SuSpect; 11 Richardson et al 2001) carried the weight of addressing data foraging during the past decade, collecting a total of 867 SN Ia spectra (1741 SN spectra in all). Many of these were either at the request of or donation to SuSpect, while some other spectra were digitized from original publications in addition to original photographic plates (Casebeer et al 1998. Prior to and concurrent with SuSpect, D. Jeffery managed a collection of SUpernova spectra PENDing further analysis (SUSPEND 12 ).…”

The Luminosity of SN 1999by in NGC 2841 and the Nature of “Peculiar” Type Ia Supernovae

“…The rather prolific galaxy NGC 2841 has also hosted SN 1957A, which was identified as a subluminous Type I supernova by Branch & Doggett (1985). Branch, Fisher, & Nugent (1993) describe it as a SN 1991bg-like event and a reanalysis of its photographic spectra by Casebeer et al (2000) shows a flux deficit around 420 nm relative to "normal' SNe Ia at a similar age, which suggests the presence of Ti II. However, in the blue part of the spectrum a Type Ic supernova can be mistaken for subluminous SN Ia after maximum, so SN 1957A can not be classified as a Type Ia with absolute certainty.…”

A review of type Ia supernova spectra

“…This conundrum of which ion signatures construct each observed spectral feature rests proportionately on the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) of the data. However, resolving this spectroscopic dilemma is primarily dependent on the wavelength and temporal coverage of the observations and traces back to the pioneering work of McLaughlin (1963) who studied spectra of the type Ib supernova, SN 1954A, in NGC 4214 (Wellmann 1955;Branch 1972;Blaylock et al 2000;Casebeer et al 2000). Contrary to previous interpretations that supernova spectra were the result of broad, overlapping emission features (Gaposchkin 1936;Humason 1936;Baade 1936;Walter & Strohmeier 1937;Minkowski 1939;Payne-Gaposchkin & Whipple 1940;Zwicky 1942;Baade et al 1956), it was D. B. McLaughlin who first began to repeatedly entertain the idea that "absorption-like" fea-Fig.…”

“…The Online Supernova Spectrum Archive (SuSpect 15 ; Richardson et al 2001) carried the weight of addressing data foraging during the past decade, collecting a total of 867 SN Ia spectra (1741 SN spectra in all). Many of these were either at the request of or donation to SuSpect, while some other spectra were digitized from original publications in addition to original photographic plates (Casebeer et al 1998(Casebeer et al , 2000. Prior to and concurrent with SuSpect, D. Jeffery managed a collection of SUpernova spectra PENDing further analysis (SUSPEND 16 ).…”