Supernova Searches

Volume 35 number 1 (2007)

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P. M. Garnavich

Abstract

Supernovae are extremely bright stellar explosions that sometimes outshine the integrated light of the parent galaxies. The physics of their explosions and the variety of supernova types present fascinating problems in stellar evolution, and their intrinsic luminosity makes them useful probes of cosmology. Searches for supernovae are currently underway by both amateur and professional astronomers using telescopes that range from a few inches' aperture to 10 meters. Of special interest are two groups, the High-z Supernova Search Team and the Supernova Cosmology Project, which discover and study supernovae that exploded when the Universe was half its present age.