Related papers: A Luminous Red Nova in M31 and its Progenitor Syst…
We present observations of SN 2015bn (= PS15ae = CSS141223-113342+004332 = MLS150211-113342+004333), a Type I superluminous supernova (SLSN) at redshift $z=0.1136$. As well as being one of the closest SLSNe I yet discovered, it is…
The recent detection of H-alpha emission in the supernova Type Ia SN 2002ic could be taken to mean that the elusive progenitor systems of Type Ia supernovae have finally been identified. At first glance, the observation appears to support a…
We have identified a luminous star at the position of supernova (SN) 2011dh/PTF11eon, in pre-SN archival, multi-band images of the nearby, nearly face-on galaxy Messier 51 (M51) obtained by the Hubble Space Telescope with the Advanced…
We report the first detection of a credible progenitor system for a Type Ic supernova (SN Ic), SN 2017ein. We present spectra and photometry of the SN, finding it to be similar to carbon-rich, low-luminosity SNe Ic. Using a post-explosion…
I present progenitor luminosities ($L$) for a sample of 112 Type II supernovae (SNe II), computed directly from progenitor photometry and the bolometric correction technique, or indirectly from empirical correlations between progenitor…
Supernova (SN) iPTF13bvn in NGC 5806 was the first Type Ib SN to have been tentatively associated with a progenitor candidate in pre-explosion images. We performed deep ultraviolet (UV) and optical Hubble Space Telescope (HST) observations…
We present observations of the unusual optical transient SN 2010U, including spectra taken 1.03 days to 15.3 days after maximum light that identify it as a fast and luminous Fe II type nova. Our multi-band light curve traces the fast…
We present Hubble Space Telescope (HST) observations of the field of the Type IIb supernova (SN) 2011dh in M51 performed at ~1161 rest-frame days after explosion using the Wide Field Camera 3 and near-UV filters F225W and F336W. A star-like…
The progenitors of SN 2008S and the 2008 transient in NGC300 were dust-enshrouded, with extremely red mid-infrared (MIR) colors and relatively low luminosities. The transients were optically faint (-13 < M_V < -15) compared to normal…
The first supersoft source (SSS) identification with an optical nova in M 31 was based on ROSAT observations. Twenty additional X-ray counterparts (mostly identified as SSS by their hardness ratios) were detected using archival ROSAT,…
We report the discovery of significant stellar substructure in the halo and outer disk of our nearest large galactic neighbour, M31. Our deep panoramic survey with the Isaac Newton Telescope Wide Field Camera currently maps out an area of…
We present the discovery of a supernova remnant (SNR) in M31 which is unlike any other remnant known in that galaxy. An optical MMT spectrum of WB92-26 sampling most of this marginally resolved object reveals strong lines of [O II], [Ne…
The hot massive luminous blue variables (LBVs) represent an important evolutionary phase of massive stars. Here, we report the discovery of a new LBV -- LAMOST J0037+4016 in the distant outskirt of the Andromeda galaxy. It is located in the…
The results of a two decade long $R$-band photometric survey of novae in M31 are presented. From these data, $R$-band light curves have been determined for 180 novae with data sufficient for estimating peak brightness and subsequent rate of…
We report the discovery of a previously unknown eruption of the recurrent nova M31N 2017-01e that took place on 11 January 2012. The earlier eruption was detected by Pan-STARRS and occurred 1847 days (5.06 yr) prior to the eruption on 31…
We report the discovery of a new dwarf spheroidal galaxy near M31 based on INT/WFC imaging. The system, Andromeda XVII (And XVII), is located at a projected radius of ~44 kpc from M31 and has a line-of-sight distance of 794+/-40 kpc…
We report the discovery of ASASSN-15lh (SN 2015L), which we interpret as the most luminous supernova yet found. At redshift z = 0.2326, ASASSN-15lh reached an absolute magnitude of M_{u,AB} = -23.5+/-0.1 and bolometric luminosity L_bol =…
The Sloan Digital Sky Survey has revealed an overdensity of luminous red giant stars ~ 3 degrees (40 projected kpc) to the northeast of M31, which we have called Andromeda NE. The line-of-sight distance to Andromeda NE is within…
We present the analysis of supernova remnants (SNRs) and candidates in M31 identified in the XMM-Newton large programme survey of M31. SNRs are among the bright X-ray sources in a galaxy. They are good indicators of recent star formation…
We present results from a 47 ks observation of the Andromeda galaxy, M31, using the High-Resolution Camera of the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. We detect 142 point sources spanning three orders of magnitude in luminosity, from $L_X = 2\times…