No UV-bright Eruptions from SN 2023ixf in GALEX Imaging 15-20 Years Before Explosion

Abstract

We analyze pre-explosion ultraviolet (UV) imaging of the nearby Type II supernova SN 2023ixf in search of precursor variability. No outbursts are seen in observations obtained 15-20 yr prior to explosion to a limit of $L_{NUV} \approx 1000~L_{sun}$ and $L_{NUV} \approx 2000~L_{sun}$. The time period of these non-detections roughly corresponds to changes in the circumstellar density inferred from early spectra and photometry.