From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

List of supernova candidates

None

This is a list of supernova candidates, or stars that are believed to soon become supernovae. Type II supernova progenitors include stars with at least 8–10 solar masses that are in the final stages of their evolution. Prominent examples of stars in this mass range include Antares, Spica, Gamma Velorum, Mu Cephei, and members of the Quintuplet Cluster. Type Ia supernova progenitors are white dwarf stars that are close to the Chandrasekhar limit of about 1.44 solar masses and are accreting matter from a binary companion star.

The list includes massive Wolf–Rayet stars, which may become Type Ib/Ic supernovae, particularly oxygen-sequence (Wolf–Rayet WO) stars. As of 2023, most of these candidates are in the Milky Way galaxy; however, five oxygen-sequence Wolf–Rayet stars are also known in other galaxies.

Table

Identifier	Distance	Spectral	Evolutionary stage	Possible supernova	Notes	R. A.	Dec.
Wolf 1130	Cygnus		M3 + D	Main sequence + white dwarf	Ia	last1=Mace	first1=Gregory N.	last2=Mann	first2=Andrew W.	last3=Skiff	first3=Brian A.	last4=Sneden	first4=Christopher	last5=Kirkpatrick	first5=J. Davy	last6=Schneider	first6=Adam C.	last7=Kidder	first7=Benjamin	last8=Gosnell	first8=Natalie M.	last9=Kim	first9=Hwihyun	last10=Mulligan	first10=Brian W.	last11=Prato	first11=L.	last12=Jaffe	first12=Daniel	date=2018-02-01	title=Wolf 1130: A Nearby Triple System Containing a Cool, Ultramassive White Dwarf	journal=The Astrophysical Journal	volume=854	issue=2	pages=145	arxiv=1802.04803	bibcode=2018ApJ...854..145M	doi=10.3847/1538-4357/aaa8dd	issn=0004-637X	doi-access=free}}
49 Librae	Libra		F8V + D	Main sequence + white dwarf	Ia	last1=Fuhrmann	first1=K.	title=Bright Times for an Ancient Star	date=2017-01-02	journal=The Astrophysical Journal	volume=834	issue=2	pages=114	postscript=.	language=en	bibcode=2017ApJ...834..114F	doi=10.3847/1538-4357/834/2/114	s2cid=125888005	last2=Chini	first2=R.	doi-access=free}}
NLTT 12758	Eridanus		D + D	White dwarf	Ia	Supernova will occur in 140 billion years
IK Pegasi	Pegasus		A8m:/DA	White dwarf	Ia	Supernova will occur in 1.9 billion years
WD J181058.67+311940.94	Hercules	160	D + D	White dwarf	Ia	Supernova will occur in 23 billion years
Nunki (Sigma Sagittarii)	Sagittarius		B2.5 V	Main sequence	II	last1=Waisberg	first1=Idel	last2=Klein	first2=Ygal	last3=Katz	first3=Boaz	date=April 2025	title=Hidden Companions to Intermediate-mass Stars. XXVI. Uncovering Nunki = Sigma Sagittarii as a 6.5 M⊙ + 6.3 M⊙, 0.60 au Binary	journal=Research Notes of the AAS	volume=9	issue=4	pages=71	doi=10.3847/2515-5172/adc739	doi-access=free}}
Bellatrix (Gamma Orionis)	Orion		B2 III	Blue Giant	II or Ia
Spica (Alpha Virginis)	Virgo		B1	Subgiant		last=Firestone	first=R. B.	title=Observation of 23 Supernovae That Exploded
Acrux (Alpha1 Crucis)	Crux		B0.5 IV	Main sequence (blue dwarf)	II	title=Acrux (Alpha Crucis)	url=http://stars.astro.illinois.edu/sow/acrux.html	access-date=2020-11-20	publisher=illinois.edu}}
Acrux (Alpha2 Crucis)	Crux		B1 V	Main sequence (blue dwarf)	II
Zeta Ophiuchi	Ophiuchus		O9.5V	Main sequence (blue dwarf)
Betelgeuse (Alpha Orionis)	Orion	~400–500	M2Iab	Red supergiant	IIP	last1=Smith	first1=Nathan	last2=Hinkle	first2=Kenneth H.	last3=Ryde	first3=Nils	date=2009-03-01	title=Red Supergiants as Potential Type IIn Supernova Progenitors: Spatially Resolved 4.6 μm CO Emission Around VY CMa and Betelgeuse	journal=The Astronomical Journal	volume=137	issue=3	pages=3558–3573	arxiv=0811.3037	bibcode=2009AJ....137.3558S	doi=10.1088/0004-6256/137/3/3558	issn=0004-6256	s2cid=19019913}}
Uridim (Alpha Lupi)	Lupus		B1.5	Blue giant	II
Antares (Alpha Scorpii)	Scorpius		M1.5Iab-b	Red supergiant	IIP
Saiph (Kappa Orionis)	Orion	650 ± 30	B0.5 Ia	Blue Supergiant	II
Ahadi (Pi Puppis)	Puppis		K3 Ib	Red supergiant	II?	last1=Asakura	first1=K.	last2=Gando	first2=A.	last3=Gando	first3=Y.	last4=Hachiya	first4=T.	last5=Hayashida	first5=S.	last6=Ikeda	first6=H.	last7=Inoue	first7=K.	last8=Ishidoshiro	first8=K.	last9=Ishikawa	first9=T.	last10=Ishio	first10=S.	last11=Koga	first11=M.	last12=Matsuda	first12=S.	last13=Mitsui	first13=T.	last14=Motoki	first14=D.	last15=Nakamura	first15=K.	date=February 2016	title=KamLAND SENSITIVITY TO NEUTRINOS FROM PRE-SUPERNOVA STARS	journal=The Astrophysical Journal	language=en	volume=818	issue=1	pages=91	doi=10.3847/0004-637X/818/1/91	doi-access=free	issn=0004-637X	arxiv=1506.01175	bibcode=2016ApJ...818...91A }}
S Monocerotis A	Monoceros		O7V	Main sequence (blue dwarf)	II
S Monocerotis B	Monoceros		O9.5V	Main sequence (blue dwarf)	II
Rigel (Beta Orionis)	Orion		B8Ia	Blue supergiant	IIn(pec?)	last1=Moravveji	first1=Ehsan	title=Asteroseismology of the nearby SN-II Progenitor: Rigel. Part I. The MOST High-precision Photometry and Radial Velocity Monitoring	date=March 2012	journal=The Astrophysical Journal	volume=747	issue=1	pages=108–115	arxiv=1201.0843	bibcode=2012ApJ...747..108M	doi=10.1088/0004-637X/747/2/108	s2cid=425831	last2=Guinan	first2=Edward F.	last3=Shultz	first3=Matt	last4=Williamson	first4=Michael H.	last5=Moya	first5=Andres}}
Gamma2 Velorum A	Vela		WC8	Wolf–Rayet star	Ib/Ic
Gamma2 Velorum B	Vela		O7.5III	Blue supergiant	II
Mintaka Aa1 (Delta Orionis)	Orion	1,200	O9.5II	Blue supergiant	II
Alnilam (Epsilon Orionis)	Orion		B0 Ia	Blue supergiant	II
Alnitak Aa (Zeta Orionis)	Orion		O9.5Iab	Blue supergiant
HD 49798	Puppis		sdO5.5/D	White dwarf	Ia	Supernova will occur in a few tens of thousands of years
119 Tauri	Taurus		M2Iab-Ib	Red supergiant	IIb
Deneb (Alpha Cygni)	Cygnus		A2la	Blue supergiant	IIL
KPD 1930+2752	Cygnus		sdB/D	White dwarf	Ia	last1=Maxted	first1=P. F. L.	last2=Marsh	first2=T. R.	last3=North	first3=R. C.	date=2000-09-21	title=KPD 1930+2752: a candidate Type Ia supernova progenitor	journal=Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society	language=en	volume=317	issue=3	pages=L41–L44	arxiv=astro-ph/0007257	bibcode=2000MNRAS.317L..41M	doi=10.1046/j.1365-8711.2000.03856.x	issn=0035-8711	s2cid=11267384	doi-access=free}}
Garnet Star (Mu Cephei)	Cepheus		M2Ia	Red hypergiant	IIn/IIb
Rho Cassiopeiae	Cassiopeia		G2Ia0e	Yellow hypergiant	IIL
VY Canis Majoris	Canis Major		M5eIa	Red hypergiant	II	last1=Weaver	first1=Donna	last2=Humphreys	first2=Roberta	date=2007-01-08	title=Astronomers Map a Hypergiant Star's Massive Outbursts	url=http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2007/03/full/	url-status=dead	archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070112234540/http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2007/03/full/	archive-date=2007-01-12	access-date=2007-01-16	website=HubbleSite NewsCenter}}
IRAS 17163-3907	Scorpius		late B/early A	Yellow hypergiant	II
Wray 17-96	Scorpius		B3	Luminous blue variable
VV Cephei A	Cepheus	4,900	M2Iab	Red hypergiant
Polis Aa (Mu Sagittarii)	Sagittarius	5,100	B8Iap	Blue supergiant
P Cygni	Cygnus		B1Ia+	Luminous blue variable	IIb
HD 168625	Sagittarius		B6Ia	Luminous blue variable	II
NML Cygni	Cygnus		M6I	Red hypergiant	II	last1=Monnier	first1=J. D.	last2=Millan-Gabet	first2=R.	last3=Tuthill	first3=P. G.	last4=Traub	first4=W. A.	last5=Carleton	first5=N. P.	last6=Coude Du Foresto	first6=V.	last7=Danchi	first7=W. C.	last8=Lacasse	first8=M. G.	last9=Morel	first9=S.	last10=Perrin	first10=G.	last11=Porro	first11=I. L.	last12=Schloerb	first12=F. P.	last13=Townes	first13=C. H.	year=2004	title=High-Resolution Imaging of Dust Shells by Using Keck Aperture Masking and the IOTA Interferometer	journal=The Astrophysical Journal	volume=605	issue=1	pages=436–461	arxiv=astro-ph/0401363	bibcode=2004ApJ...605..436M	doi=10.1086/382218	s2cid=7851916}}
IRC +10420	Aquila		F8Ia+	Yellow hypergiant	IIb
WR 142	Cygnus		WO2	Wolf–Rayet star	Ib/Ic
WR 136	Cygnus		WN6(h)-s	Wolf–Rayet star	Ic
RS Ophiuchi	Ophiuchus		M2III/D	White dwarf	Ia
IRAS 00500+6713	Cassiopeia	8,000 ± 500	WD	White dwarf	Ia	doi=10.1038/d41586-020-03654-x	title=Brilliant X-rays reveal what might be a new type of star	journal=Nature	year=2021	volume=589	issue=7841	page=172	bibcode=2021Natur.589S.172.	doi-access=free}}
Eta Carinae	Carina		LBV/O	Luminous blue variable	Ib
WR 93b	Scorpius		WO3	Wolf–Rayet star	Ib/Ic
WR 102	Sagittarius		WO2	Wolf–Rayet star	Ib/Ic
HD 179821	Aquila		G5Ia	Yellow hypergiant	IIL	last1=Jura	first1=M.	last2=Velusamy	first2=T.	last3=Werner	first3=M. W.	date=2001-06-05	title=What next for the Likely Pre-Supernova, HD 179821?	url=http://www.aas.org/publications/baas/v33n2/aas198/66.htm	url-status=dead	archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080708211729/http://www.aas.org/publications/baas/v33n2/aas198/66.htm	archive-date=2008-07-08	access-date=2007-01-08	publisher=American Astronomical Society}}
T Pyxidis	Pyxis			White dwarf	Ia
WR 104	Sagittarius		WC9d/OB	Wolf–Rayet star	Ib/Ic with Grb?
AG Carinae	Carina		LBV (WN11h-A-Ia)	Luminous blue variable	IIb	author=Groh, J. H.	author2=Meynet, G.	author3=Ekström, S.	date=2013	title=Massive star evolution: luminous blue variables as unexpected supernova progenitors	journal=Astronomy & Astrophysics	volume=550	id=L7	pages=4	doi=10.1051/0004-6361/201220741	bibcode=2013A&A...550L...7G	arxiv=1301.1519	s2cid=119227339}}
WR 30a	Carina		WO4/O5((f))	Wolf–Rayet star
Sher 25	Carina		B1.5Iab	Blue supergiant
LMC195-1	Dorado		WO2	Wolf–Rayet star	Ib/Ic
S Doradus	Dorado		LBV	Luminous blue variable
SMC AB8	Hydrus		WO4/O4	Wolf–Rayet star	Ib/Ic
DR1	Cetus		WO3	Wolf–Rayet star	Ib/Ic with Grb?	last1=Tramper	first1=F.	last2=Gräfener	first2=G.	last3=Hartoog	first3=O. E.	last4=Sana	first4=H.	last5=de Koter	first5=A.	last6=Vink	first6=J. S.	last7=Ellerbroek	first7=L. E.	last8=Langer	first8=N.	last9=Garcia	first9=M.	last10=Kaper	first10=L.	last11=de Mink	first11=S. E.	date=2013	title=On the nature of WO stars: a quantitative analysis of the WO3 star DR1 in IC 1613	journal=Astronomy & Astrophysics	volume=559	page=A72	arxiv=1310.2849	bibcode=2013A&A...559A..72T	doi=10.1051/0004-6361/201322155	issn=0004-6361	doi-access=free}}

Notes

References

(August 2020). "Presupernova Neutrinos: Directional Sensitivity and Prospects for Progenitor Identification". The Astrophysical Journal.
Lloyd, Robin. (2006-09-04). "Strange Space Pinwheels Spotted". [[space.com]].
{{cite Gaia DR3. 2185710338703934976
(2018-02-01). "Wolf 1130: A Nearby Triple System Containing a Cool, Ultramassive White Dwarf". The Astrophysical Journal.
{{cite DR2. 6250364583301188864
(2017-01-02). "Bright Times for an Ancient Star". The Astrophysical Journal.
{{cite constellation. NLTT 12758
(2016-12-05). "A fast spinning magnetic white dwarf in the double degenerate, super-Chandrasekhar system NLTT 12758". [[Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society]].
{{cite DR2
Beech, Martin. (2011-12-01). "The past, present and future supernova threat to Earth's biosphere". Astrophysics and Space Science.
{{Cite constellation. Gaia DR3 4591184666354179584
(2025-04-06). "A super-Chandrasekhar mass type Ia supernova progenitor at 49 pc set to detonate in 23 Gyr". Nature Astronomy.
(April 2025). "Hidden Companions to Intermediate-mass Stars. XXVI. Uncovering Nunki = Sigma Sagittarii as a 6.5 M⊙ + 6.3 M⊙, 0.60 au Binary". [[Research Notes of the AAS]].
"BELLATRIX (Gamma Orionis)". University of Illinois.
(2007). "Validation of the new Hipparcos reduction". Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Firestone, R. B.. (July 2014). "Observation of 23 Supernovae That Exploded <300 pc from Earth during the past 300 kyr". The Astrophysical Journal.
"Acrux (Alpha Crucis)". illinois.edu.
(2022-09-05). "Colour evolution of Betelgeuse and Antares over two millennia, derived from historical records, as a new constraint on mass and age". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
(2009-03-01). "Red Supergiants as Potential Type IIn Supernova Progenitors: Spatially Resolved 4.6 μm CO Emission Around VY CMa and Betelgeuse". The Astronomical Journal.
"Saif".
(February 2016). "KamLAND SENSITIVITY TO NEUTRINOS FROM PRE-SUPERNOVA STARS". The Astrophysical Journal.
(March 2012). "Asteroseismology of the nearby SN-II Progenitor: Rigel. Part I. The ''MOST'' High-precision Photometry and Radial Velocity Monitoring". The Astrophysical Journal.
(2011). "Astronomy with Radioactivities".
Kaler, James B.. "Regor". [[University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
(2011). "Astronomy with Radioactivities".
"Mintaka".
"Alnilam".
Berman, Bob. (2023-04-10). "Alnitak: an exceptionally hot, blue star on Orion's Belt {{!}} Astronomy.com".
(30 May 2023). "Timing the X-ray pulsating companion of the hot subdwarf HD 49798 with NICER". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
(2009). "An Ultramassive, Fast-Spinning White Dwarf in a Peculiar Binary System". Science.
(2012). "Progenitors of type Ia supernovae". New Astronomy Reviews.
(2015). "Is the X-ray pulsating companion of HD 49798 a possible type Ia supernova progenitor?". Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics.
(2000-09-21). "KPD 1930+2752: a candidate Type Ia supernova progenitor". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Kanipe, Jeff. (2000-08-05). "Skywatch—Watch This Space!". [[space.com]].
(2020-01-20). "The 'red supergiant problem': the upper luminosity boundary of Type II supernova progenitors". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Lloyd, Robin. (2006-09-04). "Strange Space Pinwheels Spotted". [[space.com]].
(2003-01-31). "The William Herschel telescope finds the best candidate for a supernova explosion". Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council.
(January 2012). "Distance and Kinematics of the Red Hypergiant VY CMa: VLBA and VLA Astrometry". [[The Astrophysical Journal]].
(2007-01-08). "Astronomers Map a Hypergiant Star's Massive Outbursts".
(2011-09-28). "'Fried Egg' Nebula Cracks Open Rare Hypergiant Star". Space.com.
(2008-09-01). "Spatial Extension in the Ultraviolet Spectrum of Vv Cephei". The Astronomical Journal.
(June 2023). "Gaia Data Release 3: Summary of the content and survey properties". Astronomy & Astrophysics.
"Polis".
(2022-06-15). "Combined spectroscopy and intensity interferometry to determine the distances of the blue supergiants P Cygni and Rigel". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
(February 2013). "Massive star evolution: Luminous Blue Variables as unexpected Supernova progenitors". Astronomy & Astrophysics.
Smith, Nathan. (March 2007). "Discovery of a Nearby Twin of SN 1987A's Nebula around the Luminous Blue Variable HD 168625: Was Sk -69 202 an LBV?". The Astronomical Journal.
(2012). "The distance and size of the red hypergiant NML Cygni from VLBA and VLA astrometry". Astronomy & Astrophysics.
(2004). "High-Resolution Imaging of Dust Shells by Using Keck Aperture Masking and the IOTA Interferometer". The Astrophysical Journal.
Jones, Terry Jay. (July 1993). "IRC +10420 - A cool hypergiant near the top of the H-R diagram". The Astrophysical Journal.
Than, Ker. (2004-10-04). "Astronomers Demonstrate a Global Internet Telescope". University of Manchester.
(2021). "Brilliant X-rays reveal what might be a new type of star". Nature.
(2003-11-18). "Biggest Star in Our Galaxy Sits within a Rugby-Ball Shaped Cocoon". [[European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere]] (ESO).
Milan, Wil. (2000-03-07). "Possible Hypernova Could Affect Earth". [[space.com]].
(2001-06-05). "What next for the Likely Pre-Supernova, HD 179821?". [[American Astronomical Society]].
(March 2001). "Probing the post-AGB nature of HD 179821: A new radio study of its circumstellar envelope". Astronomy & Astrophysics.
(2010-01-01). "The Nova Shell and Evolution of the Recurrent Nova T Pyxidis". The Astrophysical Journal.
Edwards, Lin. (2010). "Massive white dwarf in our galaxy may go supernova". PhysOrg.
Tuthill, Peter G.. (March 2008). "The Prototype Colliding-Wind Pinwheel WR 104". The Astrophysical Journal.
Kaler, Jim. (1999-04-09). "WR 104: Pinwheel Star". [[Astronomy Picture of the Day]].
Groh, J. H.. (2013). "Massive star evolution: luminous blue variables as unexpected supernova progenitors". Astronomy & Astrophysics.
(September 2002). "The evolutionary status of Sher 25 – implications for blue supergiants and the progenitor of SN 1987A". Astronomy & Astrophysics.
(2018-10-01). "How common is LBV S Doradus variability at low metallicity?". Astronomy & Astrophysics.
(2013). "On the nature of WO stars: a quantitative analysis of the WO3 star DR1 in IC 1613". Astronomy & Astrophysics.

Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

supernovae lists-of-astronomical-objects

Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about List of supernova candidates — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report