Supernova SN 2005cz and its host Milky Way NGC 4589. The arrow points to the supernova.

The Subaru telescope and the FOCAS (Faint Object Camera and Spectrograph) photographed this on August 10th, 2005.

(National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, sponsored by Subaru telescope)

　A research group that includes Hiroshima University, University of Tokyo, and the Max-Planck Institute used a Subaru Telescope to do further research on a unique supernova that was discovered by amateur astronomer Koichi Itagaki. With further observation using the Subaru Telescope, among all the supernova that have died as a result of a collapse of gravity that led to an explosion, it is understood that this star can be placed in the category of the lightest stars (10 times lighter than the sun).

　This type of “light” supernova was theorized to exist, but this explosion was the first actually confirmation of its existence. Therefore, it can be assumed that our theories about star evolution regarding supernovas have been correct. We have expectations that this discovery holds more importance than just the influence of supernovas in space.

　These research results were posted on the British Science Magazine “Nature,” in the May 20th, 2010 edition. (The online Japanese version was published on May 21st.)





■Report title： A Massive Star Origin for An Unusual Helium-Rich Supernovae in An Elliptical Galaxy

■Author: Koji Kawabata, Keiichi Maeda, Ken'ichi Nomoto, Stefan Taubenberger, Masaomi Tanaka, Jinsong Deng, Elena Pian, Takashi Hattori, Koichi Itagaki

　On Tuesday May 18th before the publication in “Nature,” Hiroshima University and University of Tokyo held a joint press conference and presented these research results. Many reporters attended the press conference, and due to the intriguing significance of the cooperation of amateurs and professionals to achieve these results, there was a very passionate question and answer session.

Associate Professor Koji Kawabata giving his presentation (Hiroshima Astrophysical Science Center)	From the left: Koichi Itagaki (amateur astronomer), Specially Appointed Professor Ken'ichi Nomoto (Tokyo University), Specially Appointed Assistant Professor Keiichi Maeda (Tokyo University), Associate Professor Kawabata	Many reporters assembled at the press conference

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