The Disappearance of the Red Supergiant Progenitor of Supernova 2008bk

Abstract

Massive stars end their lives in spectacular supernova explosions. Identifying the progenitor star is a test of stellar evolution and explosion models. Here we show that the progenitor star of the supernova SN 2008bk has now disappeared, which provides conclusive evidence that this was the death of a red supergiant star.

arXiv commentSubmitted to Science (as Brevia) on 25 Nov. 2010, rejected for publication and not resubmitted to any journal in this form. For a revised analysis of the progenitor's properties see Maund et al. 2013, arXiv:1308.4393: A new precise mass for the progenitor of the Type IIP SN 2008bk

Cited by in corpus (3)

• Observational constraints on the progenitors of core-collapse supernovae : the case for missing high mass stars
• Integral field spectroscopy of supernova explosion sites: constraining mass and metallicity of the progenitors -- II. Type II-P and II-L supernovae
• Revisiting the progenitor of the low-luminosity type II-plateau supernova, SN 2008bk