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 |
Wallpapers
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
Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
---|---|---|
Optical H-alpha + Nii | 658 nm | New Technology Telescope IRSPEC |