The star that exploded on February 23 in the Large Magellanic Cloud

The star that exploded on February 23 in the Large Magellanic Cloud (the progenitor of supernova 1987A) has now been identified. It was catalogued in 1969 as an OB star of 12th magnitude and given the designation Sanduleak -69 202. Observations at the European Southern Observatory in the mid-1970's allowed to classify it as of spectral type B3 I, that is a very hot, supergiant star.

Credit:

ESO

Over de afbeelding

Id:eso8705a
Type:Observatie
Publicatiedatum:3 maart 1987
Gerelateerde berichten:eso8705
Grootte:1743 x 1725 px

Over het object

Naam:SN 1987A, Tarantula Nebula
Type:Local Universe : Nebula
Local Universe : Star : Evolutionary Stage : Supernova
Afstand:170000 lichtjaren
Categorie:Stars

Afbeeldingstypen

Grote JPEG
802,9 KB