Light echoes from SN 1987A

In this image, taken with NTT and EMMI, light echoes from supernova SN 1987A are seen as two concentric rings around the bright star. Since the outburst of SN 1987A, light echoes have been used as an efficient way of studying the structure of the interstellar medium close to the supernova. SN1987A, detected in the nearby Large Magellanic Cloud, was the closest explosion of this kind for several centuries, the first visible by naked-eye for 383 years and definitely an event of the greatest relevance in modern astronomy. ESO telescopes have been observing this object for more than twenty years.

More information in ESO Messenger 67, p37

Crédit:

ESO

À propos de l'image

Identification:11_sn-1987a_cc
Type:Observation
Date de publication:12 mars 2010 18:51
Taille:745 x 1318 px

À propos de l'objet

Nom:SN 1987A
Type:Local Universe : Star : Evolutionary Stage : Supernova
Distance:170000 années lumière
Catégorie:Stars

Formats des images

Grand JPEG
503,7 Kio
JPEG taille écran
677,4 Kio

Zoomable


Fonds d'écran

1024x768
342,2 Kio
1280x1024
501,1 Kio
1600x1200
638,8 Kio
1920x1200
681,8 Kio
2048x1536
882,9 Kio

Couleurs & filtres

DomaineLongueur d'ondeTélescope
Visible
H-alpha
665 nmNew Technology Telescope
EMMI

Exposure time: 1200s