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

About the Image

Id:eso8705a
Type:Observation
Release date:3 March 1987
Related releases:eso8705
Size:1743 x 1725 px

About the Object

Name:SN 1987A, Tarantula Nebula
Type:Local Universe : Nebula
Local Universe : Star : Evolutionary Stage : Supernova
Distance:170000 light years
Category:Stars

Image Formats

Large JPEG
802.9 KB
Screensize JPEG
340.9 KB