Supernova SN 2014bc (was PSN J12185771+4718113) in M106: image and spectroscopy

PSN J12185771+4718113 in M106: image (21 May 2014)

Updates (22 May 2014): the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams (CBAT) issued CBET 3877 (subscription required), were this object is officially designed SN 2014bc. The mentioned CBET reports our observations: ” Additional unfiltered CCD magnitudes for 2014bc: […] May 21.888, 13.5 (G. Masi, F. Nocentini, and P. Schmeer; remotely with a 43-cm telescope near Ceccano, Italy; position end figures 57s.69, 11″.2; low-resolution spectra, obtained on May 21.90 with a 35.6-cm telescope at Ceccano with a grating having 100 lines/mm and dispersion 3.45 nm/pixel, shows H-alpha emission around 651 nm, suggesting a type-II supernova; image posted at website URL https://www.virtualtelescope.eu/?p=8059).“

On 21 May 2014 a supernova candidate in Messier 106 discovered by the PanSTARRS team was reported via CBAT and ATel. At Virtual Telescope we very promptly managed to do optical and spectroscopic follow-up, confirming the existence of the transient and clarifying it was indeed a Type II supernova (see below).

Above is a single 300-seconds exposure, remotely taken with the PlaneWave 17″ robotic unit part of the Virtual Telescope and shows the supernova very close to the nucleus of the hosting galaxy. The transient was measured at mag R=13.5. The scale in the image above is 0.7″/pixel, north is on the right, east is up.

Below is the spectrum remotely taken with the Celestron C14 robotic unit, showing a clear emission at H-alpha wavelengths, revealing this is a type II supernova.

PSN J12185771+4718113 in M106: spectrum (21 May 2014)

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