SOUSA: the Swift Optical/Ultraviolet Supernova Archive

• Published in: Astrophysics and space science Vol. 354; no. 1; pp. 89 - 96
• Main Authors: Brown, Peter J., Breeveld, Alice A., Holland, Stephen, Kuin, Paul, Pritchard, Tyler
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.11.2014; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Archives; Archives & records; Astrobiology; Astronomy; Astrophysics; Astrophysics and Astroparticles; Cosmology; Covering; Observations and Techniques; Observatories; Optical properties; Original Article; Photometry; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Space Exploration and Astronautics; Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics; Space telescopes; Spacecraft; Supernovae; Supernovas; Telescopes; Ultraviolet; Supernovae; Ultraviolet
• ISSN: 0004-640X; 1572-946X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10509-014-2059-8

The Ultra-Violet Optical Telescope on the Swift spacecraft has observed hundreds of supernovae, covering all major types and most subtypes. Here we introduce the Swift Optical/Ultraviolet Supernova Archive (SOUSA), which will contain all of the supernova images and photometry. We describe the observation and reduction procedures and how they impact the final data. We show photometry from well-observed examples of most supernova classes, whose absolute magnitudes and colors may be used to infer supernova types in the absence of a spectrum. A full understanding of the variety within classes and a robust photometric separation of the groups requires a larger sample, which will be provided by the final archive. The data from the existing Swift supernovae are also useful for planning future observations with Swift as well as future UV observatories.