Photometry of SN 2002bo with template image subtraction

VRI photometry of the type Ia supernova 2002bo is presented. This SN exploded in a dusty region of the host galaxy NGC 3190, thus, subtraction of a template frame was necessary to obtain reliable photometry. We used a template frame of NGC 3190 taken during the course of our galaxy imaging project, fortunately, just a few days before SN 2002bo was discovered. The aim of this project is to collect template frames of nearby galaxies that are potential hosts of bright SNe. Subtraction of pre-SN images helped us to exclude the background light contamination of the host galaxy. The maximum occurred at JD 2452346, with maximal V brightness of 13.58. MLCS analysis led to T0(B)=JD 2452346.1 pm 0.8 (fiducial B-maximum), E(B-V)=0.24 pm 0.02, mu0=32.46 pm 0.06, Delta=-0.14 pm 0.04. E(B-V)=0.24(2) indicates a significant extinction in the host galaxy as the galactic reddening is negligible toward NGC 3190. The accepted value of Delta indicates that SN 2002bo was a slightly overluminous SN by about 0.14 relative to fiducial SN Type Ia. The distance turned out to be 31.0 pm 3 Mpc. In addition, the heavily obscured SN 2002cv was also detected on the I frame taken on JD 2452434 (June 8, 2002), and a variable star is found in the field, very close to the host galaxy.Comment: accepted by Astronomy and Astrophysic

The He-shell flash in action: T Ursae Minoris revisited

We present an updated and improved description of the light curve behaviour of T Ursae Minoris, which is a Mira star with the strongest period change (the present rate is an amazing -3.8+/-0.4 days/year corresponding to a relative decrease of about 1% per cycle). Ninety years of visual data were collected from all available databases and the resulting, almost uninterrupted light curve was analysed with the O-C diagram, Fourier analysis and various time-frequency methods. The Choi-Williams and Zhao-Atlas-Marks distributions gave the clearest image of frequency and light curve shape variations. A decrease of the intensity average of the light curve was also found, which is in accordance with a period-luminosity relation for Mira stars. We predict the star will finish its period decrease in the meaningfully near future (c.c. 5 to 30 years) and strongly suggest to closely follow the star's variations (photometric, as well as spectroscopic) during this period.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in A&