What event does SN 2010JL represent?

SN 2010jl is classified as a Type IIn supernova. This classification is based on the specific characteristics of its explosion and the light it emitted during and after the event. Type IIn supernovae are known for their strong interaction with surrounding material, often due to the presence of a dense circumstellar medium that the ejected material collides with. This leads to the distinctive spectral features and light curves that typify Type IIn events.

SN 2010jl, in particular, exhibited signs of ongoing interaction with a dense environment, making it a classic example of this type of explosion. The additional "n" in Type IIn indicates that the supernova's light curve shows narrow emission lines, often due to interaction with material ejected from the progenitor star before the explosion.

In contrast, a Type I supernova typically involves the explosion of white dwarfs in binary systems and does not show such interactions, while a Type II supernova results from the collapse of massive stars and generally has broader lines without the interaction signature of Type IIn. A supernova remnant refers to the leftover material after a supernova explosion, not the explosion itself. Thus, the characteristics of SN 2010jl align unmistakably with