We present photometric and spectroscopic data of the type II-P supernova 2003gd , which was discovered in M74 close to the end of its plateau phase .
SN 2003gd is the first type II supernova to have a directly confirmed red supergiant progenitor .
We compare SN 2003gd with SN 1999em , a similar type II-P supernova , and estimate an explosion date of 18th March 2003 .
We determine a reddening towards the supernova of E ( B - V ) = 0.14 \pm 0.06 , using three different methods .
We also calculate three new distances to M74 of 9.6 \pm 2.8 Mpc , 7.7 \pm 1.7 Mpc and 9.6 \pm 2.2 Mpc .
The former was estimated using the Standardised Candle Method ( SCM ) , for type II supernovae , and the latter two using the Brightest Supergiants Method ( BSM ) .
When combined with existing kinematic and BSM distance estimates , we derive a mean value of 9.3 \pm 1.8 Mpc .
SN 2003gd was found to have a lower tail luminosity compared to other “ normal ” type II-P SNe bringing into question the nature of this supernova .
We present a discussion concluding that this is a “ normal ” type II-P supernova which is consistent with the observed progenitor mass of 8 ^ { +4 } _ { -2 } M _ { \odot } .