PTF10ops - a subluminous, normal-width lightcurve Type Ia supernova in
  the middle of nowhere
  PTF10ops is a Type Ia supernova (SN Ia), whose lightcurve and spectral
properties place it outside the current SN Ia subtype classifications. Its
spectra display the characteristic lines of subluminous SNe Ia, but it has a
normal-width lightcurve with a long rise-time, typical of normal luminosity SNe
Ia. The early-time optical spectra of PTF10ops were modelled using a spectral
fitting code and found to have all the lines typically seen in subluminous SNe
Ia, without the need to invoke more uncommon elements. The host galaxy
environment of PTF10ops is also unusual with no galaxy detected at the position
of the SN down to an absolute limiting magnitude of r \geq -12.0 mag, but a
very massive galaxy is present at a separation of ~148 kpc and at the same
redshift as suggested by the SN spectral features. The progenitor of PTF10ops
is most likely a very old star, possibly in a low metallicity environment,
which affects its explosion mechanism and observational characteristics.
PTF10ops does not easily fit into any of the current models of either
subluminous or normal SN Ia progenitor channels.
