Working Group for Research on Supernovae

Extract

By October 1966, the number of supernovae in extragalactic systems which had been definitely identified was 184. During the following three years an additional 70 supernovae were discovered, bringing the total number by July 1969 to 254.

The search for and the investigation of supernovae has been engaged in by an ever increasing number of observatories and astronomers, the majority of whom strongly support the continuation of the working group on supernovae and, until further notice, of the writer as its chairman.

Circular letter No. 9 was issued to the members of the working group in June 1968, giving data on the supernovae Nos. 171 to 216. A catalogue-monograph on the supernovae found since 1885 is in preparation and should be ready for presentation at the 1970 IAU Assembly. In the meantime K. Rudnicki and A. Karpowiczowa have announced that the manuscript of their catalogue of supernovae, including all major bibliographic data has been sent to the printer.

Two new approaches to the search for supernovae are in the first stages of realization, namely (a) automated searches by Professors Hynek and Colgate, the first having already resulted in 40000 bright galaxy reductions, the second being expected to start operation in the fall of 1969 and (b) the endeavours by J. Strong and F. Zwicky to have full-size objective gratings built for large (up to 50˝ apertures) Schmidt telescopes. With gratings of this type, supernovae to about m_p = 16·5 may be discovered on single plates, the spectrum being observed at discovery.