Why was special about Supernova 1987A?
1987A’s light reached Earth on February 23, 1987, and as the earliest supernova discovered that year, was labeled “1987A”. It was the first supernova that modern astronomers were able to study in great detail, and its observations have provided much insight into core-collapse supernovae.
What type of supernova is 1987A?
Type II supernova
Supernova 1987A, as it is known, was the closest supernova to Earth in hundreds of years; the Large Magellanic Cloud is only 168,000 light-years away. Astronomers quickly diagnosed it as a Type II supernova, caused by the collapse of a massive star.
How far away is Supernova 1987A?
170,000 light-years away
Since SN 1987A is located 170,000 light-years away, its current angular size as seen from Earth is expected to be about 0.1 – 0.2 arcseconds in diameter – too small to resolve with ground-based telescopes.
How was the supernova SN 1987A unusual?
How was the supernova SN 1987A unusual? it originated with a blue supergiant, neutrinos from the explosion were observed on Earth, and it is the only supernova for which the precursor star is known.
When were the neutrinos from the supernova 1987A first detected on Earth?
February 23, 1987
On February 23, 1987, just before 30 years from today, the neutrinos emitted from the supernova explosion SN1987A in the Large Magellanic Cloud, approximately 160,000 light-years away, reached the earth.
What happened to the sanduleak star?
On 23 February 1987, a blue supergiant star named Sanduleak –69° 202 exploded in the Large Magellanic Cloud, which is a dwarf-galaxy neighbour to the Milky Way 169,000 light-years away.
How did Supernova 1987A demonstrate that new elements are made in supernova explosions?
How did Supernova 1987A demonstrate that new elements are made in supernova explosions? Some of the energy produced in the event we call Supernova 1987A was used to blow the star apart. Out of the following places that the energy of this event could go, which absorbed by far the most energy?
What is the closest supernova to Earth?
The closest star to Earth is the red dwarf Proxima Centauri just over four light years away, but there is no chance of it going supernova. Theoretically, though, if a star were to go supernova one light year away from Earth it would rip our planet and the entire solar system to shreds.
When was the last supernova visible from Earth?
The last one that appears to be on record as visible to the naked eye was Kepler ‘s Supernova in 1604. Just last September, though, SN 2011fe in the Pinwheel Galaxt was visible in parts of the world using just binoculars or a small telescope.
Who discovered SN 1987A?
SN 1987A was discovered independently by Ian Shelton and Oscar Duhalde at the Las Campanas Observatory in Chile on February 24, 1987, and within the same 24 hours by Albert Jones in New Zealand.
What causes supernovae explosions?
Type Ib and Ic supernovae are formed when a large star is stripped of its outer hydrogen layers. The Type I supernovae are generally associated with binary systems. Type II supernovae are explosions of supergiant stars that occur when the star fuses iron in its core.