The Type IIn Supernova 2010bt: The Explosion of a Star in Outburst

Understand

It is well known that massive stars (M > 8 M_sun) evolve up to the collapse of the stellar core, resulting in most cases as a supernova (SN) explosion.

• Their heterogeneity is related mainly to different configurations of the progenitor star at the moment of the explosion, and to their immediate environments.
• We present photometry and spectroscopy of SN 2010bt, which was classified as a Type IIn SN from a spectrum obtained soon after discovery and was observed extensively for about two months.
• After the seasonal interruption owing to its proximity to the Sun, the SN was below the detection threshold, indicative of a rapid luminosity decline.