The Fading Radio Emission from SN 1961V: Evidence for a Type II Peculiar Supernova?

Abstract

Using the Very Large Array (VLA), we have detected radio emission from the site of SN 1961V in the Sc galaxy NGC 1058. With a peak flux density of 0.063 +/- 0.008 mJy/beam at 6 cm and 0.147 +/- 0.026 mJy/beam at 18 cm, the source is non-thermal, with a spectral index of -0.79 +/- 0.23. Within errors, this spectral index is the same value reported for previous VLA observations taken in 1984 and 1986. The radio emission at both wavelengths has decayed since the mid 1980's observations with power-law indices of beta(20cm) = -0.69 +/- 0.23 and beta(6cm) = -1.75 +/- 0.16. We discuss the radio properties of this source and compare them with those of Type II radio supernovae and luminous blue variables.

19 pages, 3 figures; To appear in the Astronomical Journal

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