Program: GS-2008B-Q-56

Title:Late-time spectroscopic study of supernovae in the Local Universe by the Chilean Millennium Center for Supernova Studies
PI:Max Stritzinger
Co-I(s): Maximilian Stritzinger, Jose Maza, Mazzali Paolo, Mark Phillips, Gaston Folatelli, Giuliano Pignata, Nidia Morrell

Abstract

In Chile we have recently founded the Millennium Center for Supernova Studies (MCSS) with the purpose to refine methods for extragalactic distances, study the origin of the dark energy, and to gain a deeper understanding of the physics of these cosmic explosions. Our observational goals consist of discovering nearby supernovae and establishing a high-quality optical/NIR spectroscopic database of ~80 supernovae (z<0.07) in the course of two 9-months observing campaigns between 2007-2009. For this purpose the MCSS has teamed up with the Carnegie Supernova Program whose main focus is to obtain optical/NIR light curves with facilities at the Las Campanas Observatory. In this collaboration one of the responsabilities of the MCSS is to secure late-time optical spectroscopic followup observations. With this proposal we request 1 dark-to-gray night per month between Aug-Jan with GMOS in classical mode with the aim to reach this goal. These data will allow us to improve our understanding of the late phase behaviour of all SNe types by providing important insight into the nature of the progenitor systems and the physics of their explosion.

Publications using this program's data