ABSTRACT The identification of extragalactic fast optical transients (eFOTs) as potential multimessenger sources is one of the main challenges in time-domain astronomy. However, recent developments ...have allowed for probes of rapidly evolving transients. With the increasing number of alert streams from optical time-domain surveys, the next paradigm is building technologies to rapidly identify the most interesting transients for follow-up. One effort to make this possible is the fitting of objects to a variety of eFOT light curve models such as kilonovae and γ-ray burst (GRB) afterglows. In this work, we describe a new framework designed to efficiently fit transients to light curve models and flag them for further follow-up. We describe the pipeline’s workflow and a handful of performance metrics, including the nominal sampling time for each model. We highlight as examples ZTF20abwysqy, the shortest long gamma-ray burst discovered to date, and ZTF21abotose, a core-collapse supernova initially identified as a potential kilonova candidate.
ABSTRACT
Early observations of transient explosions can provide vital clues to their progenitor origins. In this paper, we present the nearby Type Iax (02cx-like) supernova (SN), SN 2020udy, that was ...discovered within hours (∼7 h) of estimated first light. An extensive data set of ultra-violet, optical, and near-infrared observations was obtained, covering out to ∼150 d after explosion. SN 2020udy peaked at −17.86 ± 0.43 mag in the r band and evolved similarly to other ‘luminous’ SNe Iax, such as SNe 2005hk and 2012Z. Its well-sampled early light curve allows strict limits on companion interaction to be placed. Main-sequence companion stars with masses of 2 and 6 M⊙ are ruled out at all viewing angles, while a helium-star companion is allowed from a narrow range of angles (140–180° away from the companion). The spectra and light curves of SN 2020udy are in good agreement with those of the ‘N5def’ deflagration model of a near Chandrasekhar-mass carbon–oxygen white dwarf. However, as has been seen in previous studies of similar luminosity events, SN 2020udy evolves slower than the model. Broad-band linear polarization measurements taken at and after peak are consistent with no polarization, in agreement with the predictions of the companion-star configuration from the early light-curve measurements. The host galaxy environment is low metallicity and is consistent with a young stellar population. Overall, we find the most plausible explosion scenario to be the incomplete disruption of a CO white dwarf near the Chandrasekhar-mass limit, with a helium-star companion.
Abstract
The dividing line between gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and ordinary stripped-envelope core-collapse supernovae (SNe) is yet to be fully understood. Observationally mapping the variety of ejecta ...outcomes (ultrarelativistic, mildly relativistic, or nonrelativistic) in SNe of Type Ic with broad lines (Ic-BL) can provide a key test to stellar explosion models. However, this requires large samples of the rare SN Ic-BL events with follow-up observations in the radio, where fast ejecta can be probed largely free of geometry and viewing angle effects. Here, we present the results of a radio (and X-ray) follow-up campaign of 16 SNe Ic-BL detected by the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF). Our radio campaign resulted in four counterpart detections and 12 deep upper limits. None of the events in our sample is as relativistic as SN 1998bw and we constrain the fraction of SN 1998bw-like explosions to <19% (3
σ
Gaussian equivalent), a factor of ≈2 smaller than previously established. We exclude relativistic ejecta with radio luminosity densities in between ≈5 × 10
27
erg s
−1
Hz
−1
and ≈10
29
erg s
−1
Hz
−1
at
t
≳ 20 days since explosion for ≈60% of the events in our sample. This shows that SNe Ic-BL similar to the GRB-associated SNe 1998bw, 2003lw, and 2010bh, or to the relativistic SNe 2009bb and iPTF17cw, are rare. Our results also exclude an association of the SNe Ic-BL in our sample with largely off-axis GRBs with energies
E
≳ 10
50
erg. The parameter space of SN 2006aj-like events (faint and fast-peaking radio emission) is, on the other hand, left largely unconstrained, and systematically exploring it represents a promising line of future research.
Abstract Multipeaked supernovae with precursors, dramatic light-curve rebrightenings, and spectral transformation are rare, but are being discovered in increasing numbers by modern night-sky ...transient surveys like the Zwicky Transient Facility. Here, we present the observations and analysis of SN 2023aew, which showed a dramatic increase in brightness following an initial luminous (−17.4 mag) and long (∼100 days) unusual first peak (possibly precursor). SN 2023aew was classified as a Type IIb supernova during the first peak but changed its type to resemble a stripped-envelope supernova (SESN) after the marked rebrightening. We present comparisons of SN 2023aew’s spectral evolution with SESN subtypes and argue that it is similar to SNe Ibc during its main peak. P-Cygni Balmer lines are present during the first peak, but vanish during the second peak’s photospheric phase, before H α resurfaces again during the nebular phase. The nebular lines (O i , Ca ii , Mg i , H α ) exhibit a double-peaked structure that hints toward a clumpy or nonspherical ejecta. We analyze the second peak in the light curve of SN 2023aew and find it to be broader than that of normal SESNe as well as requiring a very high 56 Ni mass to power the peak luminosity. We discuss the possible origins of SN 2023aew including an eruption scenario where a part of the envelope is ejected during the first peak and also powers the second peak of the light curve through interaction of the SN with the circumstellar medium.
We present visible and mid-infrared imagery and photometry of temporary Jovian co-orbital comet P/2019 LD{sub 2} taken with Hubble Space Telescope/Wide Field Camera 3 (HST/WFC3), Spitzer Space ...Telescope/Infrared Array Camera (Spitzer/IRAC), and the GROWTH telescope network, visible spectroscopy from Keck/Low-Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (LRIS), and archival Zwicky Transient Facility observations taken between 2019 April and 2020 August. Our observations indicate that the nucleus of LD{sub 2} has a radius between 0.2 and 1.8 km assuming a 0.08 albedo and a coma dominated by ∼100 μm-scale dust ejected at ∼1 m s{sup −1} speeds with a ∼1′ jet pointing in the southwest direction. LD{sub 2} experienced a total dust mass loss of ∼10{sup 8} kg at a loss rate of ∼6 kg s{sup −1} with Afρ/cross section varying between ∼85 cm/125 km{sup 2} and ∼200 cm/310 km{sup 2} from 2019 April 9 to 2019 November 8. If the increase in Afρ/cross section remained constant, it implies LD{sub 2}'s activity began ∼2018 November when within 4.8 au of the Sun, implying the onset of H{sub 2}O sublimation. We measure CO/CO{sub 2} gas production of ≲10{sup 27} mol s{sup −1}/≲10{sup 26} mol s{sup −1} from our 4.5 μm Spitzer observations; g–r = 0.59 ± 0.03, r–i = 0.18 ± 0.05, and i–z = 0.01 ± 0.07 from GROWTH observations; and H{sub 2}O gas production of ≲80 kg s{sup −1} scaling from our estimated C {sub 2} production of Q{sub C{sub 2}}≲7.5×10{sup 24} mol s{sup −1} from Keck/LRIS spectroscopy. We determine that the long-term orbit of LD{sub 2} is similar to Jupiter-family comets having close encounters with Jupiter within ∼0.5 Hill radius in the last ∼3 y and within 0.8 Hill radius in ∼9 y. Additionally, 78.8% of our orbital clones are ejected from the solar system within 1 × 10{sup 6} yr, having a dynamical half-life of 3.4 × 10{sup 5} yr.
Abstract
We present time-resolved visible spectrophotometry of 2020 CD
3
, the second known minimoon. The spectrophotometry was taken with the Keck I/Low Resolution Imaging Spectrometer between ...wavelengths 434 and 912 nm in the
B
,
g
,
V
,
R
,
I
, and RG850 filters as it was leaving the Earth–Moon system on 2020 March 23 UTC. The spectrum of 2020 CD
3
resembles V-type asteroids and some lunar rock samples with a 434–761 nm reddish slope of ∼18%/100 nm (
g
–
r
= 0.62 ± 0.08 and
r
–
i
= 0.21 ± 0.06) with an absorption band at ∼900 nm corresponding to
i
–
z
= −0.54 ± 0.10. Combining our measured H of 31.9 ± 0.1 with an albedo of 0.35 typical for V-type asteroids, we determine 2020 CD
3
's diameter to be ∼0.9 ± 0.1 m, making it the first minimoon and one of the smallest asteroids to be spectrally studied. We use our time-series photometry to detect significant periodic light-curve variations with a period of ∼573 s and amplitude of ∼1. In addition, we extend the observational arc of 2020 CD
3
to 37 days, to 2020 March 23 UTC. From the improved orbital solution for 2020 CD
3
, we estimate the likely duration of its capture to be ∼2 yr and the nongravitational perturbation on its orbit due to radiation pressure with an area-to-mass ratio of (6.9 ± 2.4) × 10
−4
m
2
kg
−1
implying a density of 2.3 ± 0.8 g cm
−3
, broadly compatible with other meter-scale asteroids and lunar rock. We searched for prediscovery detections of 2020 CD
3
in the Zwicky Transient Facility archive as far back as 2018 October but were unable to locate any positive detections.
We present visible and mid-infrared imagery and photometry of temporary Jovian co-orbital comet P/2019 LD2 taken with Hubble Space Telescope/Wide Field Camera 3 (HST/WFC3), Spitzer Space ...Telescope/Infrared Array Camera (Spitzer/IRAC), and the GROWTH telescope network, visible spectroscopy from Keck/Low-Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (LRIS), and archival Zwicky Transient Facility observations taken between 2019 April and 2020 August. Our observations indicate that the nucleus of LD2 has a radius between 0.2 and 1.8 km assuming a 0.08 albedo and a coma dominated by ∼100 μm-scale dust ejected at ∼1 m s−1 speeds with a ∼1′ jet pointing in the southwest direction. LD2 experienced a total dust mass loss of ∼108 kg at a loss rate of ∼6 kg s−1 with Afρ/cross section varying between ∼85 cm/125 km2 and ∼200 cm/310 km2 from 2019 April 9 to 2019 November 8. If the increase in Afρ/cross section remained constant, it implies LD2's activity began ∼2018 November when within 4.8 au of the Sun, implying the onset of H2O sublimation. We measure CO/CO2 gas production of ≲1027 mol s−1/≲1026 mol s−1 from our 4.5 μm Spitzer observations; g–r = 0.59 ± 0.03, r–i = 0.18 ± 0.05, and i–z = 0.01 ± 0.07 from GROWTH observations; and H2O gas production of ≲80 kg s−1 scaling from our estimated C 2 production of \({Q}_{{C}_{2}}\lesssim 7.5\times {10}^{24}\) mol s−1 from Keck/LRIS spectroscopy. We determine that the long-term orbit of LD2 is similar to Jupiter-family comets having close encounters with Jupiter within ∼0.5 Hill radius in the last ∼3 y and within 0.8 Hill radius in ∼9 y. Additionally, 78.8% of our orbital clones are ejected from the solar system within 1 × 106 yr, having a dynamical half-life of 3.4 × 105 yr.
Abstract
We present visible and mid-infrared imagery and photometry of temporary Jovian co-orbital comet P/2019 LD
2
taken with Hubble Space Telescope/Wide Field Camera 3 (HST/WFC3), Spitzer Space ...Telescope/Infrared Array Camera (Spitzer/IRAC), and the GROWTH telescope network, visible spectroscopy from Keck/Low-Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (LRIS), and archival Zwicky Transient Facility observations taken between 2019 April and 2020 August. Our observations indicate that the nucleus of LD
2
has a radius between 0.2 and 1.8 km assuming a 0.08 albedo and a coma dominated by ∼100
μ
m-scale dust ejected at ∼1 m s
−1
speeds with a ∼1′ jet pointing in the southwest direction. LD
2
experienced a total dust mass loss of ∼10
8
kg at a loss rate of ∼6 kg s
−1
with Af
ρ
/cross section varying between ∼85 cm/125 km
2
and ∼200 cm/310 km
2
from 2019 April 9 to 2019 November 8. If the increase in Af
ρ
/cross section remained constant, it implies LD
2
's activity began ∼2018 November when within 4.8 au of the Sun, implying the onset of H
2
O sublimation. We measure CO/CO
2
gas production of ≲10
27
mol s
−1
/≲10
26
mol s
−1
from our 4.5
μ
m Spitzer observations;
g
–
r
= 0.59 ± 0.03,
r
–
i
= 0.18 ± 0.05, and
i
–
z
= 0.01 ± 0.07 from GROWTH observations; and H
2
O gas production of ≲80 kg s
−1
scaling from our estimated
C
2
production of
mol s
−1
from Keck/LRIS spectroscopy. We determine that the long-term orbit of LD
2
is similar to Jupiter-family comets having close encounters with Jupiter within ∼0.5 Hill radius in the last ∼3 y and within 0.8 Hill radius in ∼9 y. Additionally, 78.8% of our orbital clones are ejected from the solar system within 1 × 10
6
yr, having a dynamical half-life of 3.4 × 10
5
yr.
We present time-resolved visible spectrophotometry of 2020 CD3, the second known minimoon. The spectrophotometry was taken with the Keck I/Low Resolution Imaging Spectrometer between wavelengths 434 ...and 912 nm in the B, g, V, R, I, and RG850 filters as it was leaving the Earth-Moon system on 2020 March 23 UTC. The spectrum of 2020 CD3 resembles V-type asteroids and some lunar rock samples with a 434-761 nm reddish slope of ∼18%/100 nm (g-r = 0.62 0.08 and r-i = 0.21 0.06) with an absorption band at ∼900 nm corresponding to i-z = −0.54 0.10. Combining our measured H of 31.9 0.1 with an albedo of 0.35 typical for V-type asteroids, we determine 2020 CD3's diameter to be ∼0.9 0.1 m, making it the first minimoon and one of the smallest asteroids to be spectrally studied. We use our time-series photometry to detect significant periodic light-curve variations with a period of ∼573 s and amplitude of ∼1. In addition, we extend the observational arc of 2020 CD3 to 37 days, to 2020 March 23 UTC. From the improved orbital solution for 2020 CD3, we estimate the likely duration of its capture to be ∼2 yr and the nongravitational perturbation on its orbit due to radiation pressure with an area-to-mass ratio of (6.9 2.4) × 10−4 m2 kg−1 implying a density of 2.3 0.8 g cm−3, broadly compatible with other meter-scale asteroids and lunar rock. We searched for prediscovery detections of 2020 CD3 in the Zwicky Transient Facility archive as far back as 2018 October but were unable to locate any positive detections.
Abstract
The Earth close approach of near-Earth asteroid 2005 LW3 on 2022 November 23 represented a good opportunity for a second observing campaign to test the timing accuracy of astrometric ...observation. With 82 participating stations, the International Asteroid Warning Network collected 1046 observations of 2005 LW3 around the time of the close approach. Compared to the previous timing campaign targeting 2019 XS, some individual observers were able to significantly improve the accuracy of their reported observation times. In particular, U.S. surveys achieved good timing performance. However, no broad, systematic improvement was achieved compared to the previous campaign, with an overall negative bias persisting among the different observers. The calibration of observing times and the mitigation of timing errors should be important future considerations for observers and orbit computers, respectively.
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