A Complete Census of the Deaths of Massive Stars

AST-0908816 Kochanek该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。该项目将对本地宇宙中大质量恒星的死亡进行独特，广泛和系统的研究，包括超新星，失败的超新星及其祖先的属性。 第一部分是一项新的调查，使用双8.4米大双筒望远镜（LBT）监测附近星系中的大质量恒星。 这是第一个通过大质量星星的消失而没有超新星即失败的超新星来探测黑洞形成的实用手段。 第二个是利用运行中的全天自动巡天（ASAS）对附近的超新星（大约一亿光年以内）进行新的搜索。 一个系统的和完整的调查是必不可少的，以发现更多的超新星，发现他们更早，在所有类型的星系，以确定祖先，并计算正确的本地率。 最后是一项新的努力，使用LBT和ASAS数据，并利用斯皮策卫星的中红外数据，将特定的超新星和类似超新星的瞬变现象与它们的恒星祖先联系起来。 LBT数据将提供未来超新星祖先的光变曲线历史，与中红外调查一起，构成对即将死亡的签名的搜索，这是一个有观测提示但没有系统研究的问题。研究的一个非常重要的部分将由研究生和博士后研究人员进行，系统收集的超新星，大质量恒星，和星系的局部体积，将是一个宝贵的资源，为未来的超新星研究。 该团队将继续利用已建立的有效平台，与儿童，教师和公众分享他们的科学。

AST-0908816KochanekThis award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).This project will undertake a unique, wide-ranging, and systematic study of the deaths of massive stars in the local universe, including supernovae, failed supernovae, and the properties of their progenitors. The first part is a new survey to monitor massive stars in nearby galaxies using the twin 8.4m Large Binocular Telescope (LBT). This is the first practical means of detecting black hole formation through the disappearance of a massive star without a supernova, that is, a failed supernova. Second is a new search for nearby supernovae (within about a hundred million light years), using the operating All-Sky Automated Survey (ASAS). A systematic and complete survey is essential to finding more supernovae, to finding them earlier and in all types of galaxy, to identifying progenitors, and to calculating correct local rates. Last is a new effort to connect specific supernovae and supernova-like transients to their massive-star progenitors, using the LBT and ASAS data, and building on pioneering work using mid-infrared data from the Spitzer satellite. The LBT data will provide light curve histories of future supernova progenitors that, with the mid-IR investigations, constitute a search for signatures of imminent death, a question for which there are observational hints but no systematic studies.A very significant part of the research will be carried out by graduate students and a postdoctoral researcher, and the systematically collected data on the supernovae, massive stars, and galaxies of the local volume, will be a valuable resource for future supernova studies. The team will continue to use established effective platforms to share their science with children, teachers and members of the public.