A possible radio supernova in the outer part of NGC 3310

Abstract

As part of an ongoing radio supernova monitoring program, we have discovered a variable, compact steep spectrum radio source ~65 arcsec (~4 kpc) from the centre of the starburst galaxy NGC 3310. If the source is at the distance of NGC 3310, then its 5-GHz luminosity is~31019WHz-1. The source luminosity, together with its variability characteristics, compact structure (<17 mas) and its association with a group of HII regions, leads us to propose that it is a previously uncatalogued Type II radio supernova. A search of archival data also shows an associated X-ray source with a luminosity similar to known radio supernova.