DRAFT
2020-06-24 16:30:11
Type: Object/s-Discovery/Classification
Bibcode: 2020TNSAN.122....1F
Pan-STARRS Search for Kilonovae: discovery of an intrinsically faint transient in LEDA 867721 (154 Mpc)
Authors: M. Fulton, S. J. Smartt, K. W. Smith (QUB), K. C. Chambers, M. Huber (IfA, Hawaii), S. Srivastav, O. McBrien, D. R. Young, J. Gillanders, D. O'Neill, P. Clark, S. Sim (QUB), T. de Boer, J. Bulger, J. Fairlamb, C.-C. Lin, T. Lowe, E. Magnier, A. Schultz, R. J. Wainscoat, M. Willman (IfA), T.-W. Chen (Stockholm), D. E. Wright (University of Minnesota), C. Stubbs (Harvard), A. Rest (STScI)
Source Group: Pan-STARRS
Keywords: Supernova, Transient
Abstract:
We are carrying out the "Pan-STARRS Search for Kilonovae" which is a focused search for intrinsically faint transients, or rapidly evolving transients in galaxies which are closer than 200 Mpc in the ongoing Pan-STARRS Near-Earth Object surveys (see Smartt et al. AstroNote 2019-48 for details).  Here we report the discovery of an intrinsically faint transient PS20eln (AT2020njt) in the host galaxy LEDA 867721, at a redshift of z = 0.035 or d = 154 Mpc (from NED). Its discovery magnitude (MJD = 59023.31) is w = 22.37 +/- 0.20, and hence an absolute magnitude of M_w = -13.8 +/- 0.3.

We are carrying out the "Pan-STARRS Search for Kilonovae" which is a focused search for intrinsically faint transients, or rapidly evolving transients in galaxies which are closer than 200 Mpc in the ongoing Pan-STARRS Near-Earth Object surveys (see Smartt et al. AstroNote 2019-48 for details). 

In normal survey mode, Pan-STARRS takes 4 x 45s exposures in w, i or z each night reaching 5 sigma magnitudes of w<22, i<21 and z<20.5 in each frame (see Chambers et al. 2016, 1612.05560). 

We report the discovery of an intrinsically faint transient PS20eln (AT2020njt) in the host galaxy LEDA 867721, at a redshift of z = 0.035 or d = 154 Mpc (from NED). The transient was discovered on MJD 59023.31 == 2020-06-23.31, at m_w = 22.37 +/- 0.20. There was no detection by Pan-STARRS on MJD 58992.33 == 2020-05-23.33. The transient is offset from the host by 16.5" S, 4.4" E (a projected 12.5 kpc radius from the galaxy centre). At this distance, the absolute magnitude is M_w = -13.8 (assuming m-M = 35.94 and foreground extinction of  A_r = 0.22). Spectroscopic classification is encouraged. 

We will release AstroNotes for all these candidates and encourage spectroscopic classification or photometric follow-up. A finder and image of the forced photometry are attached. 

The discoveries from this program are a byproduct of the Pan-STARRS NEO survey observations. Operation of the Pan-STARRS1 and Pan-STARRS2 telescopes is primarily supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under Grant No. NNX12AR65G and Grant No. NNX14AM74G issued through the SSO Near-Earth Object Observations Program. Data are processed at Queen's University Belfast enabled through the STFC grants ST/P000312/1 and ST/T000198/1. 

Show current TNS values
Catalog Name Reported RA Reported DEC Reported Obj-Type Reported Redshift Host Name Host Redshift Remarks TNS RA TNS DEC TNS Obj-Type TNS Redshift
TNS 2020njt [PS20eln] 14:35:15.341 -18:28:35.75 LEDA 867721 0.035438 14:35:15.341 -18:28:35.75
AstroNote Publication Timestamp Title Authors
2019-48 2019-07-20 17:37:13 Pan-STARRS Search for Kilonovae : discovery of an intrinsically faint transient in UGC 12798 (68 Mpc) S. J. Smartt, (Queen's University Belfast), K. C. Chambers, (IfA, University of Hawaii) K. W. Smith (QUB), M. Huber (IfA), S. Srivastav, O. McBrien, D. R. Young, J. Gillanders, D. O'Neil, P. Clark, S. Sim, (QUB), T. de Boer, J. Bulger, J. Fairlamb, C.-C. Lin, T. Lowe, E. Magnier, A. Schultz, R. J. Wainscoat, M. Willman (IfA), T.-W. Chen (MPE), D. E. Wright (University of Minnesota), C. Stubbs (Harvard), A. Rest (STScI)
File Comments
public://astronotes_files/323/PS20eln_forced_photometry.png Pan-STARRS forced photometry flux (uJy) screenshot for PS20eln.
public://astronotes_files/323/PS20eln_w_band_finder.jpeg Pan-STARRS w-band finder for PS20eln.

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