The optical recovery of SN 1970G in M101 (NGC 5457)

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Abstract
Optical emission from SN 1970G nearly 22 yr after maximum light is presented and discussed. Images show SN 1970G to have occurred 3.8" +/- 0.2" N and 1.9" +/- 0.2" W off the optical peak of M101's bright H II region NGC 5455. A low-dispersion spectrum shows broad 5400 to 6500 km s^-1^ emissions of Hα and [O I] λλ6300, 6364 with luminosities comparable to those seen in SN 1980K. We compare the SN 1970G spectrum to those of other optically detected, radio-bright evolved SNe and suggest SN-circumstellar matter interaction as the dominant late-time energy source for the observed optical emission. The detection of this 20 + yr old, rather ordinary Type II-L SN raises the possibility of detecting even older Type II SNe, especially if located in relatively uncrowded regions of the parent galaxy.

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