Could someone explain in brief exactly how type II supernovae could be used as distance indicators? as in simply the formulae used and how they are employed? I know there are certain methods based on expansion velocity etc but the open supernova catalog ( https://sne.space/ ) gives the absolute and apparent mag for type II supernovae too, why would we then need to use methods dependent upon expansion velocity and other complications when we can simply calculate distance using $10^{m-M + 5}$?
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
5
-
1$\begingroup$ FWIW, type Ia are the usual galactic standard candles. $\endgroup$– PM 2RingCommented Dec 8, 2020 at 20:48
-
1$\begingroup$ yeah, those are pretty straight-forward, I simply wanted to know more about type II -p. I've read some work about EPM and SCM methods but I was just confused. $\endgroup$– M.KCommented Dec 8, 2020 at 20:52
-
1$\begingroup$ No worries. But I'll leave my previous comment for the benefit of future readers. ;) $\endgroup$– PM 2RingCommented Dec 8, 2020 at 20:57
-
$\begingroup$ You say that the Open Supernova Catalog shows both m & M, but I only see m. Am I reading it wrong somehow? $\endgroup$– D. HalseyCommented Dec 9, 2020 at 23:34
-
$\begingroup$ Absolute mag was computed by known redshift observed in spectra. So, m - M as the distance modulus is a derived parameter from observables. $\endgroup$– Kornpob BhirombhakdiCommented Dec 10, 2020 at 13:35
Add a comment
|
1 Answer
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
The open supernova catalogue calculates absolute magnitudes from the observed apparent magnitude, luminosity distance and redshift decrements. They note that they don't account for spectral energy distribution shape, so absolute magnitudes may be approximate if there is significant absorption by dust.
So the catalogue isn't recording a measured or modelled absolute magnitude derived independently of the distance, (which is required if the SN are used as standard candles), but a calculated absolute magnitude derived from the apparent magnitude and the redshift.
