We present an analysis of the diversity of V -band light-curves of hydrogen-rich type II supernovae. Analyzing a sample of 116 supernovae, several magnitude measurements are defined, together with decline rates at different epochs, and time durations of different phases. It is found that magnitudes measured at maximum light correlate more strongly with decline rates than those measured at other epochs: brighter supernovae at maximum generally have faster declining light-curves at all epochs. We find a relation between the decline rate during the 'plateau' phase and peak magnitudes, which has a dispersion of 0.56 magnitudes, offering the prospect of using type II supernovae as purely photometric distance indicators. Our analysis suggests that the type II population spans a continuum from low-luminosity events which have flat light-curves during the 'plateau' stage, through to the brightest events which decline much faster. A large range in optically thick phase durations is observed, implying a range in progenitor envelope masses at the epoch of explosion. During the radioactive tails, we find many supernovae with faster declining light-curves than expected from full trapping of radioactive emission, implying low mass ejecta. It is suggested that the main driver of light-curve diversity is the extent of hydrogen envelopes retained before explosion. Finally, a new classification scheme is introduced where hydrogen-rich events are typed as simply 'SN II' with an 's 2 ' value giving the decline rate during the 'plateau' phase, indicating its morphological type. Subject headings: (stars:) supernovae: general * Based on observations obtained with the du-Pont and Swope telescopes at LCO, and the Steward Observatory's CTIO60, SO90 and CTIO36 telescopes.

Despite a rich phenomenology, gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are divided into two classes based on their duration and spectral hardness--the long-soft and the short-hard bursts. The discovery of afterglow emission from long GRBs was a watershed event, pinpointing their origin to star-forming galaxies, and hence the death of massive stars, and indicating an energy release of about 10(51) erg. While theoretical arguments suggest that short GRBs are produced in the coalescence of binary compact objects (neutron stars or black holes), the progenitors, energetics and environments of these events remain elusive despite recent localizations. Here we report the discovery of the first radio afterglow from the short burst GRB 050724, which unambiguously associates it with an elliptical galaxy at a redshift z = 0.257. We show that the burst is powered by the same relativistic fireball mechanism as long GRBs, with the ejecta possibly collimated in jets, but that the total energy release is 10-1,000 times smaller. More importantly, the nature of the host galaxy demonstrates that short GRBs arise from an old (> 1 Gyr) stellar population, strengthening earlier suggestions and providing support for coalescing compact object binaries as the progenitors.

An analysis of the first set of low-redshift (z<0.08) Type Ia supernovae monitored by the Carnegie Supernova Project between 2004 and 2006 is presented. The data consist of well-sampled, high-precision optical (ugriBV ) and near-infrared (NIR; Y JHK s ) light curves in a well-understood photometric system. Methods are described for deriving light-curve parameters, and for building template light curves which are used to fit Type Ia supernova data in the ugriBV Y JH bands. The intrinsic colors at maximum light are calibrated using a subsample of supernovae assumed to have suffered little or no reddening, enabling color excesses to be estimated for the full sample. The optical-NIR color excesses allow the properties of the reddening law in the host galaxies to be studied. A low average value of the total-to-selective absorption coefficient, R V ≈ 1.7, is derived when using the entire sample of supernovae. However, when the two highly reddened supernovae (SN 2005A and SN 2006X) in the sample are excluded, a value R V ≈ 3.2 is obtained, similar to the standard value for the Galaxy. The red colors of these two events are well matched by a model where multiple scattering of photons by circumstellar dust steepens the effective extinction law. The absolute peak magnitudes of the supernovae are studied in all bands using a two-parameter linear fit to the decline 1 This paper includes data gathered with the 6.5 m Magellan Telescopes located at Las Campanas Observatory, Chile.rates and the colors at maximum light, or alternatively, the color excesses. In both cases, similar results are obtained with dispersions in absolute magnitude of 0.12-0.16 mag, depending on the specific filter-color combination. In contrast to the results obtained from the comparison of the color excesses, these fits of absolute magnitude give R V ≈ 1-2 when the dispersion is minimized, even when the two highly reddened supernovae are excluded. This discrepancy suggests that, beyond the "normal" interstellar reddening produced in the host galaxies, there is an intrinsic dispersion in the colors of Type Ia supernovae which is correlated with luminosity but independent of the decline rate. Finally, a Hubble diagram for the best-observed subsample of supernovae is produced by combining the results of the fits of absolute magnitude versus decline rate and color excess for each filter. The resulting scatter of 0.12 mag appears to be limited by the peculiar velocities of the host galaxies as evidenced by the strong correlation between the distance-modulus residuals observed in the individual filters. The implication is that the actual precision of Type Ia supernovae distances is 3-4%.Subject headings: distance scale -dust, extinction -galaxies: distances and redshiftsgalaxies: ISM -supernovae: general of the low-redshift data. 9 Over the five-year period ending in May 2009, the CSP has obtained densely sampled optical and near-infrared (NIR) light curves of ∼100 SNe Ia in a well-understood, homogeneous photometric system (Hamuy et al. 2006, hereafter H06)....

We present an observational study of the Type IIn supernovae (SNe IIn) 2005ip and 2006jd. Broadband UV, optical, and near-IR photometry, and visual-wavelength spectroscopy of SN 2005ip complement and extend upon published observations to 6.5 years past discovery. Our observations of SN 2006jd extend from UV to mid-infrared wavelengths, and like SN 2005ip, are compared to reported X-ray measurements to understand the nature of the progenitor. Both objects display a number of similarities with the 1988Z-like subclass of SN IIn including (1) remarkably similar early-and late-phase optical spectra, (2) a variety of high-ionization coronal lines, (3) longduration optical and near-IR emission, and (4) evidence of cold and warm dust components. However, diversity is apparent, including an unprecedented late-time r-band excess in SN 2006jd. The observed differences are attributed to differences between the mass-loss history of the progenitor stars. We conclude that the progenitor of SN 2006jd likely experienced a significant mass-loss event during its pre-SN evolution akin to the great 19th century eruption of η Carinae. Contrarily, as advocated by Smith et al., the circumstellar environment of SN 2005ip is found to be more consistent with a clumpy wind progenitor.

Aims. The observational diversity displayed by various Type IIn supernovae (SNe IIn) is explored and quantified. In doing so, a more coherent picture ascribing the variety of observed SNe IIn types to particular progenitor scenarios is sought. Results. For each SN of our sample, we find counterparts, identifying objects similar to SNe 1994W (SN 2006bo), 1998S (SN 2008fq), and 1988Z (SN 2006qq). We present the unprecedented initial u-band plateau of SN 2006aa, and its peculiar late-time luminosity and temperature evolution. For each SN, mass-loss rates of 10 −4 −10 −2 M yr −1 are derived, assuming the CSM was formed by steady winds. Typically wind velocities of a few hundred km s −1 are also computed. Conclusions. The CSP SN IIn sample seems to be divided into subcategories rather than to have exhibited a continuum of observational properties. The wind and mass-loss parameters would favor a luminous blue variable progenitor scenario. However, the assumptions made to derive those parameters strongly influence the results, and therefore, other progenitor channels behind SNe IIn cannot be excluded at this time.