The light curve and distance of Kepler supernova: news from four centuries ago

TL;DR

This study analyzes historical data of SN 1604 to determine its light curve, classify it as a normal Type Ia supernova, estimate its distance at approximately 5 kpc, and confirm its relevance for cosmological studies.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of SN 1604's light curve using historical observations, confirming its classification as a normal SNIa and estimating its distance, aiding cosmological research.

Findings

SN 1604 resembles a normal SNIa with stretch s ~ 0.9

The supernova is obscured by 2.7 magnitudes in V

Estimated distance to SN 1604 is 5 ± 0.7 kpc

Abstract

We study the light curve of SN 1604 using the historical data collected at the time of observation of the outburst. Comparing the supernova with recent SNe Ia of various rates of decline after maximum light, we find that this event looks like a normal SNIa (stretch s close to 0.9: 0.9 \pm 0.13), a fact which is also favoured by the late light curve. The supernova is heavily obscured by 2.7 \pm 0.1 magnitudes in V. We obtain an estimate of the distance to the explosion with a value of d = 5 \pm 0.7 kpc. This can help to settle ongoing discussions on the distance to the supernova. It also shows that this supernova is of the same kind as those of the SNIa sets that we use for cosmology nowadays.