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We present reduced images and catalogues of photometric and emission-line data (∼230 000 and ∼8000 sources, respectively) for the WFC3 (Wide Field Camera 3) Infrared Spectroscopic Parallel (WISP) survey. These data are made publicly available on the Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes and include reduced images from various facilities: ground-based ugri, Hubble Space Telescope (HST) WFC3, and Spitzer IRAC (Infrared Array Camera). Coverage in at least one additional filter beyond the WFC3/IR data are available for roughly half of the fields (227 out of 483), with ∼20 per cent (86) having coverage in six or more filters from u band to IRAC 3.6  |$\mu$| m (0.35–3.6  |$\mu$| m). For the lower spatial resolution (and shallower) ground-based and IRAC data, we perform PSF (point spread function)-matched, prior-based, deconfusion photometry (i.e. forced-photometry) using the tphot software to optimally extract measurements or upper limits. We present the methodology and software used for the WISP emission-line detection and visual inspection. The former adopts a continuous wavelet transformation that significantly reduces the number of spurious sources as candidates before the visual inspection stage. We combine both WISP catalogues and perform spectral energy distribution fitting on galaxies with reliable spectroscopic redshifts and multiband photometry to measure their stellar masses. We stack WISP spectra as functions of stellar mass and redshift and measure average emission-line fluxes and ratios. We find that WISP emission-line sources are typically 'normal' star-forming galaxies based on the mass–excitation diagram ([O  iii ]/Hβ versus M ⋆; 0.74 < z grism < 2.31), the galaxy main sequence (SFR versus M ⋆; 0.30 < z grism < 1.45), S 32 ratio versus M ⋆ (0.30 < z grism < 0.73), and O 32 and R 23 ratios versus M ⋆ (1.27 < z grism < 1.45). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We follow up emission line galaxies identified through the near-infrared slitless HST /WFC3 WISP survey with VLT/FORS2 optical spectroscopy. Over 4 WISP fields, we targeted 85 of 138 line emission objects at |$0.4\lt z\lt 2$| identified in WFC3 spectroscopy. Half the galaxies are fainter than |$H_{AB}=24$|  mag, and would not have been included in many well-known surveys based on broad-band magnitude selection. We confirm 95 per cent of the initial WFC3 grism redshifts in the 38 cases where we detect lines in FORS2 spectroscopy. However, for targets which exhibited a single emission line in WFC3, up to 65 per cent at |$z\lt 1.28$| did not have expected emission lines detected in FORS2 and hence may be spurious (although this false-detection rate improves to 33 per cent using the latest public WISP emission line catalogue). From the Balmer decrement, the extinction of the WISP galaxies is consistent with |$A($| H  |$\alpha)=1$|  mag. From SED fits to multiband photometry including Spitzer |$3.6\, \mu$| m, we find a median stellar mass of |$\log _{10}(M_\star /{\rm M}_{\odot })=8.94$|⁠. Our emission-line-selected galaxies tend to lie above the star-forming main sequence (i.e. higher specific star formation rates). Using [O  iii ], [O  ii ], and H β lines to derive gas-phase metallicities, we find typically sub-solar metallicities, decreasing with redshift. Our WISP galaxies lie below the |$z=0$| mass–metallicity relation, and galaxies with higher star formation rates tend to have lower metallicity. Finally, we find a strong increase with redshift of the H α rest-frame equivalent width in this emission-line selected sample, with higher |$EW_0$| galaxies having larger [O  iii ]/H β and O32 ratios on average, suggesting lower metallicity or higher ionization parameter in these extreme emission line galaxies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the first characterization of the average dust attenuation curve at z ∼ 1.3 by combining rest-frame ultraviolet through near-IR photometry with Balmer decrement (H α/H β) constraints for ∼900 galaxies with 8 ≲ log (M ⋆/M⊙) < 10.2 at 0.75 < z < 1.5 in the HST WFC3 IR Spectroscopic Parallel and 3D- HST grism surveys. Using galaxies in SDSS, we establish that the (H α + [N  ii ])/[O  iii ] line ratio and stellar mass are good proxies for the Balmer decrement in low-spectral resolution grism data when only upper limits on H β are available and/or H α is blended with [N  ii ]. The slope of the z ∼ 1.3 attenuation curve (⁠|$A(0.15\, \rm{\mu m})/A(V)=3.15$|⁠) and its normalization (RV  = 3.26) lie in-between the values found for z  = 0 and z ∼ 2 dust attenuation curves derived with similar methods. These provide supporting evidence that the average dust attenuation curve of star-forming galaxies evolves continuously with redshift. The z ∼ 1.3 curve has a mild 2175 Å feature (bump amplitude, Eb  = 0.83; ∼25 per cent that of the MW extinction curve), which is comparable to several other studies at 0 < z ≲ 3, and suggests that the average strength of this feature may not evolve significantly with redshift. The methods we develop to constrain dust attenuation from HST grism data can be applied to future grism surveys with JWST ,  Euclid , and RST. These new facilities will detect millions of emission line galaxies and offer the opportunity to significantly improve our understanding of how and why dust attenuation curves evolve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measuring the escape fraction, f esc, of ionizing, Lyman continuum (Ly C) radiation is key to our understanding of the process of cosmic reionization. In this paper, we provide a methodology for recovering the posterior probability distribution of the Ly C escape fraction, |$f_{\rm esc}^{\rm PDF}$|⁠ , considering both the observational uncertainties and ensembles of simulated transmission functions through the intergalactic medium (IGM). We present an example of this method applied to a VUDS galaxy at z = 3.64 and find |$f_{\rm esc}^{\rm PDF}$| = 0.51 |$^{+0.33}_{-0.34}$| and compare this to the values computed assuming averaged IGM transmission with and without consideration of detection bias along average sightlines yielding |$f_{\rm esc}^{\langle T \rangle }$| = 1.40 |$^{+0.80}_{-0.42}$| and |$f_{\rm esc}^{\rm bias}$| = 0.82 |$^{+0.33}_{-0.16}$|⁠. Our results highlight the limitations of methods assuming average, smooth transmission functions. We also present MOSFIRE data for a sample of seven Ly C candidates selected based on photometric redshifts at z > 3.4, but find that all seven have overestimated photometric redshifts by Δ z ∼ 0.2 making them unsuitable for Ly C measurements. This results likely due to a bias induced by our selection criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we investigate upper limits on the global escape fraction of ionizing photons (⁠|$f_{\rm esc/global}^{\rm abs}$|⁠) from a sample of galaxies probed for Lyman-continuum (LyC) emission characterized as non-LyC and LyC leakers. We present a sample of nine clean non-contaminated (by low-redshift interlopers, CCD problems, and internal reflections of the instrument) galaxies that do not show significant (>3σ) LyC flux in the range 880 < λrest < 910 Å. The nine-galaxy stacked spectrum reveals no significant LyC flux with an upper limit of |$f_{\rm esc}^{\rm abs} \le 0.06$|⁠. In the next step of our analysis, we join all estimates of |$f_{\rm esc}^{\rm abs}$| upper limits derived from different samples of 2 ≲  z < 6 galaxies from the literature reported in last ∼20 yr and include the sample presented in this work. We find the |$f_{\rm esc}^{\rm abs}$| upper limit ≤0.084 for the galaxies recognized as non-LyC leakers. After including all known detections from literature |$f_{\rm esc/global}^{\rm abs}$| upper limit ≤0.088 for all galaxies examined for LyC flux. Furthermore, |$f_{\rm esc}^{\rm abs}$| upper limits for different groups of galaxies indicate that the strongest LyC emitters could be galaxies classified as Lyman α emitters. We also discuss the possible existence of a correlation among the observed flux density ratio |$(F_{\nu }^{\mathrm{ LyC}}/F_{\nu }^{\mathrm{ UV}})_{\rm obs}$| and Lyman α equivalent width EW(Lyα), where we confirm the existence of moderately significant correlation among galaxies classified as non-LyC leakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the relationship between the underlying escape fraction of Lyman continuum (LyC) photons (f esc) emitted by galaxies and measuring the distribution of observed f esc values at high redshift is fundamental to the interpretation of the reionization process. In this paper, we perform a statistical exploration of the attenuation of LyC photons by neutral hydrogen in the intergalactic medium using ensembles of simulated transmission functions. We show that LyC-detected galaxies are more likely to be found in sightlines with higher than average transmission of LyC photons. This means that adopting a mean transmission at a given redshift leads to an overestimate of the true f esc for LyC-detected galaxies. We note, however, that mean values are appropriate for f esc estimates of larger parent samples that include LyC non-detected galaxies. We quantify this IGM transmission bias for LyC detections in photometric and spectroscopic surveys in the literature and show that the bias is stronger for both shallower observations and for fainter parent samples (i.e. Ly α emitters versus Lyman break galaxies). We also explore the effects of varying the underlying probability distribution function (PDF) of f esc on recovered values, showing that the underlying f esc PDF may depend on sample selection by comparing with observational surveys. This work represents a first step in improved interpretation of LyC detections in the context of understanding f esc from high-redshift galaxies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying non-contaminated sample of high-redshift galaxies with escaping Lyman continuum (LyC) flux is important for understanding the sources and evolution of cosmic reionization. We present CLAUDS (CFHT Large Area u -band deep survey) u -band photometry of the COSMOS field to probe LyC radiation from spectroscopically confirmed galaxies at |$z$| ≥ 3.5 and outside the standard Lyman-break galaxy colour-selection expectations. Complementary to the CLAUDS data, we use Subaru multifilter photometry, Hubble Space Telescope (HST) multifilter imaging, and the spectroscopic surveys D10K, VUDS, and 3D-HST. We present a sample of Lyman continuum galaxy (LCG) candidates in the redshift range 3.5 ≲ |$z$| ≲ 5.1. Here, we introduce 5 LCG candidates, where two are flagged quality 1 and three quality 2. The estimated |$f_{\rm esc}^{\rm abs}$| for quality 1 candidates are in the range |$\sim 5 - 73{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$| and |$\sim 30 - 93{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$|⁠. These estimates are based on our derived parameters from individual galaxies as inputs to a range of BPASS models as well as mean intergalactic medium (IGM) and maximal intergalactic and circumgalactic media (IGM+CGM) transmission. We conclude that our search for LCGs is most likely biased to lines of sight with low H  i densities or free from Lyman limit systems. Our two best LCG candidates have EW (Lyα) ≤ 50 Å and we find no correlation or anticorrelation between EW (Lyα), |$f_{\rm esc}^{\rm abs}$|⁠ , and R obs, the ratio of ionizing to non-ionizing observed flux in the measured passbands. Stacking candidates without solid LyC detections (S/N < 3) results in an estimated |$f_{\rm esc}^{\rm abs}$| from galaxies not greater than |$1{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$|⁠. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the goals, design, and first results of the MUSE Ultra Deep Field (MUDF) survey, a large programme using the Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) instrument at the ESO Very Large Telescope. The MUDF survey is collecting ≈150 h on-source of integral field optical spectroscopy in a 1.5 × 1.2 arcmin2 region which hosts several astrophysical structures along the line of sight, including two bright z ≈ 3.2 quasars with close separation (≈500 kpc). Following the description of the data reduction procedures, we present the analysis of the galaxy environment and gaseous properties of seven groups detected at redshifts 0.5 < z < 1.5, spanning a large dynamic range in halo mass, |$\log (M_h/\rm {M_\odot }) \approx 11 - 13.5$|⁠. For four of the groups, we find associated Mg  ii absorbers tracing cool gas in high-resolution spectroscopy of the two quasars, including one case of correlated absorption in both sightlines at distance ≈480 kpc. The absorption strength associated with the groups is higher than what has been reported for more isolated galaxies of comparable mass and impact parameters. We do not find evidence for widespread cool gas giving rise to strong absorption within these groups. Combining these results with the distribution of neutral and ionized gas seen in emission in lower redshift groups, we conclude that gravitational interactions in the group environment strip gas from the galaxy haloes into the intragroup medium, boosting the cross-section of cool gas and leading to the high fraction of strong Mg  ii absorbers that we detect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present first results from Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) observations at the Very Large Telescope in the MUSE Ultra Deep Field (MUDF), a ≈1.2 × 1.4 arcmin2 region for which we are collecting ≈200 hours of integral field spectroscopy. The ≈40-h observation completed to date reveals the presence of a group of three Lyα nebulae associated with a bright quasar pair at |$z$|  ≃ 3.23 with projected separation of |${\approx } 500\rm ~kpc$|⁠. Two of the nebulae are physically associated with the quasars which are likely powering the Lyα emission, and extend for |${\gtrsim } 100~\rm kpc$| at a surface brightness level of ≈6 × 10−19  |$\rm erg\,s^{-1}\,cm^{-2}\,arcsec^{-2}$|⁠. A third smaller (≈35 kpc) nebula lies at a velocity offset of ≈1550 km s−1. Despite their clustered nature, the two large nebulae have properties similar to those observed in isolated quasars and exhibit no sharp decline in flux at the current depth, suggesting an even more extended distribution of gas around the quasars. We interpret the shape and the alignment of the two brighter nebulae as suggestive of the presence of an extended structure connecting the two quasar host galaxies, as seen for massive galaxies forming within gas-rich filaments in cosmological simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a study of cold gas absorption from a damped Lyman-α absorber (DLA) at redshift zabs = 1.946 toward two lensed images of the quasar J144254.78+405535.5 at redshift zQSO = 2.590. The physical separation of the two lines of sight at the absorber redshift is dabs = 0.7 kpc according to our lens model. We observe absorption lines from neutral carbon and H2 along both lines of sight, indicating that cold gas is present on scales larger than dabs. We measure the column densities of H I to be log N(HI) = 20.27 ± 0.02 and 20.34 ± 0.05 and those of H2 to be log N(H2) = 19.7 ± 0.1 and 19.9 ± 0.2. The metallicity inferred from sulphur is consistent with solar metallicity for both sightlines: [S/H]A = 0.0 ± 0.1 and [S/H]B = −0.1 ± 0.1. Based on the excitation of low rotational levels of H2, we constrain the temperature of the cold gas phase to be T = 109 ± 20 and T = 89 ± 25 K for the two lines of sight. From the relative excitation of fine-structure levels of C I, we constrain the hydrogen volumetric densities to lie in the range of 40 − 110 cm−3. Based on the ratio of observed column density and volumetric density, we infer the average individual "cloud" size along the line of sight to be l ≈ 0.1 pc. Using the transverse line-of-sight separation of 0.7 kpc together with the individual cloud size, we are able to place an upper limit to the volume filling factor of cold gas of fvol < 0.1%. Nonetheless, the projected covering fraction of cold gas must be large (close to unity) over scales of a few kpc in order to explain the presence of cold gas in both lines of sight. Compared to the typical extent of DLAs (∼10 − 30 kpc), this is consistent with the relative incidence rate of C I absorbers and DLAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Oxygen and zinc in the Galactic bulge are key elements for the understanding of the bulge chemical evolution. Oxygen-to-iron abundance ratios provide a most robust indicator of the star formation rate and chemical evolution of the bulge. Zinc is enhanced in metal-poor stars, behaving as an α-element, and its production may require nucleosynthesis in hypernovae. Most of the neutral gas at high redshift is in damped Lyman-alpha systems (DLAs), where Zn is also observed to behave as an α-element. Aims. The aim of this work is the derivation of the α-element oxygen, together with nitrogen, and the iron-peak element zinc abundances in 417 bulge giants, from moderate resolution (R ~ 22 000) FLAMES-GIRAFFE spectra. For stars in common with a set of UVES spectra with higher resolution (R ~ 45 000), the data are intercompared. The results are compared with literature data and chemodynamical models. Methods. We studied the spectra obtained for a large sample of red giant stars, chosen to be one magnitude above the horizontal branch, using FLAMES-GIRAFFE on the Very Large Telescope. We computed the O abundances using the forbidden [OI] 6300.3 Å and Zn abundances using the Zn I 6362.34 Å lines. Stellar parameters for these stars were established in a previous work from our group. Results. We present oxygen abundances for 358 stars, nitrogen abundances for 403 stars and zinc abundances were derived for 333 stars. Having oxygen abundances for this large sample adds information in particular at the moderate metallicities of −1.6 < [Fe/H] < −0.8. Zn behaves as an α-element, very similarly to O, Si, and Ca. It shows the same trend as a function of metallicity as the α-elements, i.e., a turnover around [Fe/H] ~ − 0.6, and then decreasing with increasing metallicity. The results are compared with chemodynamical evolution models of O and Zn enrichment for a classical bulge. DLAs also show an enhanced zinc-to-iron ratio, suggesting they may be enriched by hypernovae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the causes of the reported mass-dependence in the slope of the SFR−M∗ relation, the so-called main sequence of star-forming galaxies, and discuss its implication on the physical processes that shaped the star formation history of massive galaxies over cosmic time. We made use of the near-infrared high-resolution imaging from the Hubble Space Telescope in the CANDELS fields to perform a careful bulge-to-disk decomposition of distant galaxies and measure for the first time the slope of the SFR−Mdisk relation at z = 1. We find that this relation very closely follows the shape of the nominal SFR−M∗ correlation, still with a pronounced flattening at the high-mass end. This clearly excludes, at least at z = 1, the progressive growth of quiescent stellar bulges in star-forming galaxies as the main driver for the change of slope of the main sequence. Then, by stacking the Herschel data available in the CANDELS field, we estimated the gas mass (Mgas = MH i + MH2) and the star formation efficiency (SFE ≡ SFR/Mgas) at different positions on the SFR−M∗ relation. We find that the relatively low SFRs observed in massive galaxies (M∗> 5 × 1010 M⊙) are not caused by a reduced gas content, but by a star formation efficiency that is lower by up to a factor of 3 than in galaxies with lower stellar mass. The trend at the lowest masses is probably linked to the dominance of atomic over molecular gas. We argue that this stellar-mass-dependent SFE can explain the varying slope of the main sequence since z = 1.5, hence over 70% of the Hubble time. The drop in SFE occurs at lower masses in the local Universe (M∗> 2 × 1010 M⊙) and is not present at z = 2. Altogether, this provides evidence for a slow decrease in star formation efficiency in massive main sequence galaxies. The resulting loss of star formation is found to be rising starting from z = 2 to reach a level similar to the mass growth of the quiescent population by z = 1. We finally discuss the possible physical origin of this phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the relationship between the structure and star formation rate (SFR) of X-ray selected low and moderate luminosity active galactic nuclei (AGNs) in the two Chandra Deep Fields, using Hubble Space Telescope imaging from the Cosmic Assembly Near Infrared Extragalactic Legacy Survey (CANDELS) and deep far-infrared maps from the PEP+GOODS-Herschel survey. We derive detailed distributions of structural parameters and FIR luminosities from carefully constructed control samples of galaxies, which we then compare to those of the AGNs. At z ~ 1, AGNs show slightly diskier light profiles than massive inactive (non-AGN) galaxies, as well as modestly higher levels of gross galaxy disturbance (as measured by visual signatures of interactions and clumpy structure). In contrast, at z ~ 2, AGNs show similar levels of galaxy disturbance as inactive galaxies, but display a red central light enhancement, which may arise from a more pronounced bulge in AGN hosts or extinguished nuclear light. We undertake a number of tests of both these alternatives, but our results do not strongly favor one interpretation over the other. The mean SFR and its distribution among AGNs and inactive galaxies are similar at z > 1.5. At z < 1, however, clear and significant enhancements are seen in the SFRs of AGNs with bulge-dominated light profiles. These trends suggest an evolution in the relation between nuclear activity and host properties with redshift, towards a minor role for mergers and interactions at z > 1.5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We combine Hubble Space Telescope (HST) G102 and G141 near-IR (NIR) grism spectroscopy with HST/WFC3-UVIS, HST/WFC3-IR, and Spitzer/IRAC [3.6 μm] photometry to assemble a sample of massive (log (Mstar/M☼) ∼ 11.0) and quenched (specific star formation rate <0.01 Gyr–1) galaxies at z ∼ 1.5. Our sample of 41 galaxies is the largest with G102+G141 NIR spectroscopy for quenched sources at these redshifts. In contrast to the local universe, z ∼ 1.5 quenched galaxies in the high-mass range have a wide range of stellar population properties. We find that their spectral energy distributions (SEDs) are well fitted with exponentially decreasing star formation histories and short star formation timescales (τ ⩽ 100 Myr). Quenched galaxies also show a wide distribution in ages, between 1 and 4 Gyr. In the (u – r)0-versus-mass space quenched galaxies have a large spread in rest-frame color at a given mass. Most quenched galaxies populate the z ∼ 1.5 red sequence (RS), but an important fraction of them (32%) have substantially bluer colors. Although with a large spread, we find that the quenched galaxies on the RS have older median ages (3.1 Gyr) than the quenched galaxies off the RS (1.5 Gyr). We also show that a rejuvenated SED cannot reproduce the observed stacked spectra of (the bluer) quenched galaxies off the RS. We derive the upper limit on the fraction of massive galaxies on the RS at z ∼ 1.5 to be <43%. We speculate that the young quenched galaxies off the RS are in a transition phase between vigorous star formation at z > 2 and the z ∼ 1.5 RS. According to their estimated ages, the time required for quenched galaxies off the RS to join their counterparts on the z ∼ 1.5 RS is of the order of ∼1 Gyr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Of several dozen galaxies observed spectroscopically that are candidates for having a redshift (z) in excess of seven, only five have had their redshifts confirmed via Lyman α emission, at z = 7.008, 7.045, 7.109, 7.213 and 7.215 (refs 1, 2, 3, 4). The small fraction of confirmed galaxies may indicate that the neutral fraction in the intergalactic medium rises quickly at z > 6.5, given that Lyman α is resonantly scattered by neutral gas. The small samples and limited depth of previous observations, however, makes these conclusions tentative. Here we report a deep near-infrared spectroscopic survey of 43 photometrically-selected galaxies with z > 6.5. We detect a near-infrared emission line from only a single galaxy, confirming that some process is making Lyman α difficult to detect. The detected emission line at a wavelength of 1.0343 micrometres is likely to be Lyman α emission, placing this galaxy at a redshift z = 7.51, an epoch 700 million years after the Big Bang. This galaxy's colours are consistent with significant metal content, implying that galaxies become enriched rapidly. We calculate a surprisingly high star-formation rate of about 330 solar masses per year, which is more than a factor of 100 greater than that seen in the Milky Way. Such a galaxy is unexpected in a survey of our size, suggesting that the early Universe may harbour a larger number of intense sites of star formation than expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supernova (SN) 2008ax in NGC 4490 was discovered within hours after shock breakout, presenting the rare opportunity to study a core-collapse SN beginning with the initial envelope-cooling phase immediately following shock breakout. We present an extensive sequence of optical and near-infrared spectra, as well as three epochs of optical spectropolarimetry. Our initial spectra, taken two days after shock breakout, are dominated by hydrogen Balmer lines at high velocity. However, by maximum light, He I lines dominated the optical and near-infrared spectra, which closely resembled those of normal Type Ib supernovae (SNe Ib) such as SN 1999ex. This spectroscopic transition defines Type IIb SNe, but the strong similarity of SN 2008ax to normal SNe Ib beginning near maximum light, including an absorption feature near 6270 Å due to Hα at high velocities, suggests that many objects classified as SNe Ib in the literature may have ejected similar amounts of hydrogen as SN 2008ax, roughly a few x 0.01 M⊙. Only the unusually early discovery of SN 2008ax allowed us to observe the spectroscopic signatures of the hydrogen-rich outer ejecta. Early-time spectropolarimetry (six and nine days after shock breakout) revealed strong line polarization modulations of 3.4% across Hα, indicating the presence of large asphericities in the outer ejecta and possibly that the spectrum of SN 2008ax could be dependent on the viewing angle. After removal of interstellar polarization, the continuum shares a common polarization angle with the hydrogen, helium, and oxygen lines, while the calcium and iron absorptions are oriented at different angles. This is clear evidence of deviations from axisymmetry even in the outer ejecta. Intrinsic continuum polarization of 0.64% only nine days after shock breakout shows that the outer layers of the ejecta were quite aspherical. A single epoch of late-time spectropolarimetry as well as the shapes of the nebular line profiles demonstrate that asphericities extended from the outermost layers all the way down to the center of this core-collapse SN. SN 2008ax may in some ways be an extragalactic analog of the explosion giving rise to Cassiopeia A, which has recently been determined to be a remnant of an SN IIb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]