We have identified a progenitor candidate in archival Hubble Space Telescope ( HST ) images for the Type Ic SN 2017ein in NGC 3938 , pinpointing the candidate ’ s location via HST Target-of-Opportunity imaging of the SN itself .
This would be the first identification of a stellar-like object as a progenitor candidate for any Type Ic supernova to date .
We also present observations of SN 2017ein during the first { \sim } 49 days since explosion .
We find that SN 2017ein most resembles the well-studied Type Ic SN 2007gr .
We infer that SN 2017ein experienced a total visual extinction of A _ { V } \approx 1.0 –1.9 mag , predominantly because of dust within the host galaxy .
Although the distance is not well known , if this object is the progenitor , it was likely of high initial mass , { \sim } 47 –48 M _ { \odot } if a single star , or { \sim } 60 –80 M _ { \odot } if in a binary system .
However , we also find that the progenitor candidate could be a very blue and young compact cluster , further implying a very massive ( > 65 M _ { \odot } ) progenitor .
Furthermore , the actual progenitor might not be associated with the candidate at all and could be far less massive .
From the immediate stellar environment , we find possible evidence for three different populations ; if the SN progenitor was a member of the youngest population , this would be consistent with an initial mass of { \sim } 57 M _ { \odot } .
After it has faded , the SN should be reobserved at high spatial resolution and sensitivity , to determine whether the candidate is indeed the progenitor .