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Texas Supernova Search

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Texas Supernova Search
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Texas Supernova Search (TSS) is one of many ongoing projects to identify and record supernova events. The project is led by Robert Quimby and to date has found 35 supernovae, 29 of which they were the first to report on. In addition they have discovered twelve (extragalactic) novae (in M31 and M33, including a probable LBV) and six dwarf novae.[1]

The project's most notable successes are SN 2005ap and SN 2006gy, the two most powerful supernovae yet recorded. SN 2005ap was an extremely energetic type II supernova. It is reported to be the brightest supernova yet recorded, twice as bright as the previous record holder, SN 2006gy.[2] Although SN 2005ap was twice as bright at its peak than SN 2006gy it was not as energetic overall as the former brightened and dimmed in a typical period of a few days whereas the latter remained very bright for many months. SN2005ap was about 300 times brighter than normal for a type II supernova. It has been speculated that this supernova involved the formation of a quark star.[3]

Time magazine listed the discovery of SN 2006gy as third in its Top 10 Scientific Discoveries for 2007.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Texas Supernova Search". grad40.as.utexas.edu. Archived from the original on 6 July 2008. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  2. ^ "Enigmatic supernova smashes brightness record".
  3. ^ Leahy, Denis A. (2008). "Superluminous Supernovae SN2006gy, SN2005gj and SN2005ap: Signs for a New Explosion Mechanism". American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #212. 212. Bibcode:2008AAS...212.6401L.
  4. ^ "Top 10 Scientific Discoveries - 50 Top 10 Lists of 2007 - TIME". Time. Archived from the original on 12 December 2007. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
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