We present the EROS nearby supernova ($z \sim 0.02 - 0.2$) search and the analysis of the first year of data (1997). A total of 80 square degrees were surveyed. Eight supernov{ \ae} were detected, four of which were spectroscopically identified as type Ia supernov{ \ae}. The search efficiency was determined with a Monte-Carlo simulation taking into account the efficiencies for both supernova detection and host galaxy identification. Assuming that for a given galaxy the supernova rate is proportional to the galactic luminosity, we compute a type Ia supernova explosion rate of: ${ \cal R} = 0.44 { }_{ -0.21}^{ +0.35} { }_{ -0.07}^{ +0.13} h^2: / 10^{ 10} \lbsun / 100 { \rm yrs}$ at an average redshift of $\sim 0.1$ where the errors are respectively statistical and systematic (type misidentification included).
Categories: astro-ph