Radio Observations of SN 1979C: Evidence for Rapid Presupernova Evolution

Abstract

We present new radio observations of the supernova SN 1979C made with the VLA at 20, 6, 3.6, and 2 cm from 1991 July to 1998 October, which extend our previously published observations (Weiler et al.1986, 1991), beginning 8 days after optical maximum in 1979 April and continuing through 1990 December. We find that the radio emission from SN 1979C has stopped declining in flux density in the manner described by Weiler et al. (1992), and has apparently entered a new stage of evolution. The observed ``flattening,'' or possible brightening, of the radio light curves for SN 1979C is interpreted as due to the SN shock wave entering a denser region of material near the progenitor star and may be indicative of complex structure in the circumstellar medium established by the stellar wind from the red supergiant (RSG) progenitor.