List of supernova candidates

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,^[2] Mu Cephei, and members of the Quintuplet Cluster.^[3] 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.

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[1]

Identifier	Epoch J2000		Constellation	Distance (light-years)	Spectral class	Evolutionary stage	Possible supernova type	Notes
Identifier	R. A.	Dec.	Constellation	Distance (light-years)	Spectral class	Evolutionary stage	Possible supernova type	Notes
Wolf 1130	20^h 05^m 19.5^s	+54° 26′ 03″^[4]	Cygnus	54.09 ± 0.02^[4]	M3 + D^[5]	Subdwarf + white dwarf	Ia	Supernova will occur in over 6.2 billion years.^[5]
49 Librae	16^h 00^m 19.61^s	−16° 32′ 00.5″^[6]	Libra	95.3 ± 0.5^[6]	F8V + D^[7]^[8]	Main sequence + white dwarf	Ia	Supernova will occur in over 500 million years after binary pair merger.^[7]
NLTT 12758	04^h 12^m 26.33^s	−11° 17′ 47.3″^[4]	Eridanus^[9]	114.5 ± 0.1^[4]	D + D	White dwarf + white dwarf	Ia	Supernova will occur in 140 billion years^[10]
IK Pegasi	21^h 26^m 26.7^s	+19° 22′ 32″^[6]	Pegasus	154 ± 1^[6]	A8m: or kA6hA9mF0 + DA	Main sequence + White dwarf	Ia	Supernova will occur in 1.9 billion years^[11]
WD J181058.67+311940.94	18^h 10^m 58.7^s	+31° 19′ 40.9″	Hercules^[12]	160	D + D	White dwarf + white dwarf	Ia	Supernova will occur in 23 billion years^[13]
Sigma Sagittarii (Nunki)	18^h 55^m 15.93^s	–26° 17′ 48.2″^[14]	Sagittarius	224.7 ± 9.8^[14]	B2.5 V	Main sequence	II	Supernova will occur in over 20 million years after binary pair merger.^[15]
Bellatrix	05^h 25^m 07.86^s	+06° 20′ 58.9″^[14]	Orion	250 ± 10	B2 III or B2V	Blue giant	II	^[16]
Spica	13^h 25^m 11.6^s	−11° 09′ 40.8″^[14]	Virgo	250 ± 10^[17]	B1III-IV	Subgiant	II	^[18]
Mimosa	12^h 47^m 43.26877^s	−59° 41′ 19.5792″^[14]	Crux	280 ± 20	B0.5 III	Blue giant	II	^[19]
Eta Centauri	14^h 35^m 30.42416^s	−42° 09′ 28.1708″	Centaurus	306 ± 6	B1.5 Vne	Main-sequence	II	^[20]
Acrux Aa	12^h 26^m 35.9^s	–63° 05′ 56″^[14]	Crux	348 ± 5	B0.5 IV	Main sequence	II	^[21]
Acrux B	12^h 26^m 36.4^s	–63° 05′ 58″^[14]	Crux	348 ± 5	B1 V	Main sequence	II	^[21]
Beta Centauri Aa (Hadar)	14^h 03^m 49.40535^s	−60° 22′ 22.9266″^[14]	Centaurus	361 ± 2	B1 III	Blue giant	II	^[22]
Beta Centauri Ab (Hadar)	14^h 03^m 49.40535^s	−60° 22′ 22.9266″^[14]	Centaurus	361 ± 2	B1 III	Blue giant	II	^[22]
Epsilon Canis Majoris (Adhara)	06^h 58^m 37.54876^s	−28° 58′ 19.5102″^[14]	Canis Major	405 ± 7	B2 II or B2 III-II	Bright giant or Subgiant	II	^[23]
Betelgeuse	05^h 55^m 10.3^s	+07° 24′ 25″^[14]	Orion	408 – 548+90 −49	M1–M2 Ia–ab	Red supergiant	II-P	^[24]
Zeta Ophiuchi	16^h 37^m 09.5^s	−10° 34′ 02″	Ophiuchus	440 ± 36	O9.5V	Main sequence	II	^[1]
Beta Scorpii Aa (Acrab)	16^h 05^m 26.23198^s	−19° 48′ 19.6300″	Scorpius	400 ± 40	B0.5IV-V	Main-sequence	II	^[25]
Alpha Lupi (Uridim)	14^h 41^m 55.8^s	–47° 23′ 17″	Lupus	460 ± 10	B1.5 III	Blue giant	II	^[18]
Kappa Scorpii	17^h 42^m 29.27520^s	−39° 01′ 47.9391″	Scorpius	480 ± 10	B1.5 III	Blue giant	II	^[26]
Delta Scorpii A (Dschubba)	16^h 00^m 20.00528^s	−22° 37′ 18.1431″	Scorpius	490	B0.3 IV	Main-sequence	II	^[27]
Beta Canis Majoris (Mirzam)	06^h 22^m 41.98535^s	−17° 57′ 21.3073″	Canis Major	490 ± 20	B1 II-III	Blue giant	II	^[28]
Antares	16^h 29^m 24.5^s	–26° 25′ 55″	Scorpius	550	M1.5Iab-b	Red supergiant	II-P	^[18]
Gamma Cassiopeiae (Tiansi)	00^h 56^m 42.50108^s	+60° 43′ 00.2984″	Cassiopeia	550 ± 10	B0.5IVe	Main-sequence	II	^[29]
Lambda Scorpii (Shaula)	17^h 33^m 36.520^s	−37° 06′ 13.76″	Scorpius	570	B1.5IV	Main-sequence	II	^[30]
Saiph	05^h 47^m 45.38884^s	−09° 40′ 10.5777″	Orion	650 ± 30	B0.5 Ia	Blue Supergiant	II	^[31]
Epsilon Pegasi (Enif)	21^h 44^m 11.15614^s	+09° 52′ 30.0311″	Pegasus	690 ± 20	K2 Ib–II	Red supergiant	II	^[32]
Pi Puppis (Ahadi)	07^h 17^m 08.6^s	–37° 05′ 51″	Puppis	807+72 −61^[17]	K3 Ib	Red supergiant	II?	^[1]^[33]
Rigel	05^h 14^m 32.3^s	–08° 12′ 06″	Orion	848 ± 65	B8 Ia	Blue supergiant	IIn(pec?)	^[34]
S Monocerotis A	06^h 40^m 58.7^s	+09° 53′ 44″	Monoceros	920+150 −110^[17]	O7V	Main-sequence	II	^[1]
S Monocerotis B	06^h 40^m 58.7^s	+09° 53′ 44″	Monoceros	920+150 −110^[17]	O9.5V	Main-sequence	II	^[1]
Zeta Puppis (Naos)	08^h 03^m 35.05^s	−40° 00′ 11.3″	Puppis	1,080 ± 40	O4If(n)p	Blue supergiant	II	^[35]
Gamma² Velorum A	08^h 09^m 32.0^s	−47° 20′ 12″	Vela	1,120+130 −100^[17]	WC8	Wolf–Rayet star	Ib/Ic	^[36]^[2]
Gamma² Velorum B	08^h 09^m 32.0^s	−47° 20′ 12″	Vela	1,120+130 −100^[17]	O7.5III	Blue supergiant	II	^[37]^[2]
Mintaka Aa1	05^h 32^m 00.4000^s	−00° 17′ 56.7424″	Orion	1,200	O9.5II	Blue supergiant	II	^[38]
Alnilam	05^h 36^m 12.81^s	−01° 12′ 06.9″	Orion	1,250±26	B0 Ia	Blue supergiant	II	^[39]
Alnitak Aa	05^h 40^m 45.5^s	−01° 56′ 34.3″	Orion	1,260±180	O9.5Iab	Blue supergiant		^[40]
Delta Canis Majoris (Wezen)	07^h 08^m 23.48608^s	−26° 23′ 35.5474″	Canis Major	1,600	F8 Ia	Yellow supergiant	II	^[41]
HD 49798	06^h 48^m 04.7^s	−44° 18′ 58″	Puppis	1,699±46^[42]	sdO5.5/D^[43]	White dwarf	Ia	Supernova will occur in a few tens of thousands of years^[44]^[45]
119 Tauri	05^h 32^m 12.8^s	+18° 35′ 40″	Taurus	1,790+300 −220^[17]	M2Iab-Ib	Red supergiant	IIb	^[1]^[33]
Gamma Cygni (Sadr)	20^h 22^m 13.70184^s	+40° 15′ 24.0450″	Cygnus	1,800	F8 Iab	Yellow supergiant	II	^[46]
Deneb	20^h 41^m 25.9^s	+45° 16′ 49″	Cygnus	2,615±215^[1]	A2la	Blue supergiant	IIL	^[1]
KPD 1930+2752	19^h 32^m 14.9^s	+27° 58′ 35″	Cygnus	2,860+130 −120^[47]	sdB/D	White dwarf	Ia	^{[nb 1]}^[48]^[49]
Mu Cephei (Garnet Star)	21^h 43^m 30.5^s	+58° 46′ 48″	Cepheus	3,060+456 −130^[50]	M2Ia	Red hypergiant	IIn/IIb	^[51]
Rho Cassiopeiae	23^h 54^m 23.0^s	+57° 29′ 58″	Cassiopeia	3,440+930 −610^[47]	G2Ia0e	Yellow hypergiant	IIL	^[52]
VY Canis Majoris	07^h 22^m 58.3^s	−25° 46′ 03″	Canis Major	3,930+420 −350^[53]	M5eIa	Red hypergiant	II	^[24]^[54]
IRAS 17163-3907	17^h 19^m 49.3^s	−39° 10′ 37.9″	Scorpius	3,930+990 −660^[47]	late B/early A	Yellow hypergiant	II	^[55]
Wray 17-96	17^h 41^m 35.4^s	–30° 06′ 39″	Scorpius	3,940+1,110 −710^[47]	B3	Luminous blue variable
VV Cephei A	21^h 56^m 39.1^s	+63° 37′ 32″	Cepheus	4,900^[56]	M2Iab	Red hypergiant		^[1]
Stephenson 2 DFK 52	18^h 39^m 23.4^s	−06° 02′ 16″	Scutum	4,900	M0I	Red supergiant	II-P	^[57]
Mu Sagittarii Aa (Polis)	18^h 13^m 14.8^s	–21° 03′ 32″	Sagittarius	5,100^[58]	B8Iap	Blue supergiant		^[59]
P Cygni	20^h 17^m 47.2^s	+38° 01′ 59″	Cygnus	5,250±590^[60]	B1Ia+	Luminous blue variable	IIb	^[61]
HD 168625	18^h 21^m 19.5^s	−16° 22′ 26″	Sagittarius	5,250+600 −490^[47]	B6Ia	Luminous blue variable	II	^[62]
NML Cygni	20^h 46^m 25.6^s	+40° 06′ 59.4″	Cygnus	5,250+420 −360^[63]	M6I	Red hypergiant	II	^[64]
IRC +10420	19^h 26^m 48.1^s	+11° 21′ 17″	Aquila	5,600+2,200 −1,200^[47]	F8Ia+	Yellow hypergiant	IIb	^[65]^[66]
WR 142	20^h 21^m 44.3^s	+37° 22′ 31″	Cygnus	5,670+290 −270^[47]	WO2	Wolf–Rayet star	Ib/Ic
RY Scuti	18^h 25^m 31.48^s	−12° 41′ 24.2″	Scutum	5,870	O9.7 Ibpe	Blue supergiant	IIb or Ib/c	^[67]
WR 136	20^h 12^m 06.5^s	+38° 21′ 18″	Cygnus	6,700+500 −430^[47]	WN6(h)-s	Wolf–Rayet star	Ic
RS Ophiuchi	17^h 50^m 13.2^s	–06° 42′ 28″	Ophiuchus	7,380+1,000 −790^[47]	M2III/D	White dwarf	Ia
IRAS 00500+6713	00^h 53^m 11.21^s	+67° 30′ 02.4″	Cassiopeia	8,000 ± 500	WD	White dwarf	Ia	^[68]
Eta Carinae	10^h 45^m 03.6^s	−59° 41′ 04″	Carina	8,630+69 −68^[47]	LBV/O	Luminous blue variable	Ib	^[69]^[70]
WR 93b	17^h 32^m 03.3^s	−35° 04′ 32″	Scorpius	8,700+1,900 −1,300^[47]	WO3	Wolf–Rayet star	Ib/Ic
WR 102	17^h 45^m 47.5^s	−26° 10′ 27″	Sagittarius	9,410+840 −710^[47]	WO2	Wolf–Rayet star	Ib/Ic
HD 179821	19^h 13^m 58.6^s	+00° 07′ 32″	Aquila	10,500+2,100 −1,500^[47]	G5Ia	Yellow hypergiant	IIL	^[71]^[72]
T Pyxidis	09^h 04^m 41.5^s	−32° 22′ 48″	Pyxis	10,700+1,700 −1,300^[47]		White dwarf	Ia	^[73]^[74]
WR 104	18^h 02^m 04.1^s	–23° 37′ 41″	Sagittarius	13,400+9,200 −3,900^[47]	WC9d/OB	Wolf–Rayet star	Ib/Ic with Grb?	^[75]^[76]
AG Carinae	10^h 56^m 11.57814^s	−60° 27′ 12.8107″	Carina	17,000±1,000	LBV	Luminous blue variable	IIb	^[77]
WR 30a	10^h 51^m 38.9^s	−60° 56′ 35.2″	Carina	38,900+18,500 −9,500^[47]	WO4/O5((f))	Wolf–Rayet star
Sher 25	11^h 15^m 07.8^s	−61° 15′ 17″	Carina	43,500+5,200 −4,200^[47]	B1.5Iab	Blue supergiant		^[78]
LMC195-1	05^h 18^m 10.3^s	−69° 13′ 03″	Dorado	160,000^[47]	WO2	Wolf–Rayet star	Ib/Ic
S Doradus	05^h 18^m 14.4^s	−69° 15′ 01″	Dorado	169,000	LBV	Luminous blue variable		^[79]
SMC AB8	01^h 31^m 04.1^s	−73° 25′ 04″	Hydrus	200,000^[47]	WO4/O4	Wolf–Rayet star	Ib/Ic
DR1	01^h 05^m 01.6^s	+02° 04′ 20″	Cetus	2,350,000	WO3	Wolf–Rayet star	Ib/Ic with Grb?	^[80]

List of supernova candidates

Table

Notes

References

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