Open AccessA post‐mortem investigation of the Type IIb supernova 2001ig
Author(s) -
Ryder Stuart D.,
Murrowood Clair E.,
Stathakis Raylee A.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society: letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.067
H-Index - 122
eISSN - 1745-3933
pISSN - 1745-3925
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-3933.2006.00168.x
Subject(s) - physics , astrophysics , supernova , supergiant , light curve , point source , astronomy , stars , optics
We present images taken with the Gemini Multi‐Object Spectrograph on Gemini‐South, in excellent (<0.5 arcsec) seeing, of supernova (SN) 2001ig in NGC 7424, ∼1000 d after explosion. A point source seen at the site of the SN is shown to have colours inconsistent with being an H ii region or a SN 1993J‐like remnant, but can be matched to a late‐B through late‐F supergiant with A V < 1 . We believe this object is the massive binary companion responsible for periodic modulation in mass‐loss material around the Wolf–Rayet progenitor which gave rise to significant structure in the SN radio light curve.