Improving Type Ia Supernovae Standardization With Galaxy Photometry in Near-Infrared With New Observations

Measuring distances in astronomy is challenging, but these distances are vital in our understanding of the physical phenomena in our universe. A common method for determining astronomical distances is the "Standard Candle" technique with Type Ia supernovae (SNIa). Currently, the process of standardizing SNIa incorporates the stellar mass of the host galaxy, though the underlying physical reasons for this are not well understood. Several proposed explanations suggest how different environments might produce variations in SNIa, but these need further observations in order to validate their claims. In this project, we are conducting near-infrared photometry of SNIa host galaxies. We are analyzing new H- and J-band data collected by Gemini North and South. Combining the new data with existing optical data, our goal is to obtain more accurate measurements of stellar properties using the Prospector software. This research will improve the precision of SNIa standardization.