Honeycomb structure around SN 1987A

This frame was obtained by NTT and EMMI in 1992, with 10 minutes exposure in H-alpha. It shows an interesting honeycomb structure in the interstellar matter around supernova SN1987A, which lies at the centre of the structure, in the lower left. SN 1987A, detected in 1987 in the nearby Large Magellanic Cloud was the closest supernova for several centuries, the first visible by naked-eye for 383 years and definitely one of the most studied objects in modern astronomy. ESO telescopes have been observing SN 1987A for more than twenty years.

More information in ESO Messenger 69, p34: http://www.eso.org/sci/publications/messenger/archive/no.69-sep92/messenger-no69.pdf

Credit:

ESO

About the Image

Id:16_sn-1987a_cc
Type:Observation
Release date:12 March 2010, 18:51
Size:2802 x 2824 px

About the Object

Name:SN 1987A
Type:Local Universe : Star : Evolutionary Stage : Supernova
Distance:170000 light years
Constellation:Dorado
Category:Stars

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Coordinates

Position (RA):5 35 37.65
Position (Dec):-69° 17' 32.96"
Field of view:3.11 x 3.14 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 0.7° right of vertical

Colours & filters

BandWavelengthTelescope
Optical
H-alpha + Nii
658 nmNew Technology Telescope
IRSPEC