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> Supernova 1987A

Supernova 1987A

author: Anglo-Australian Observatory/David Malin Images/Novapix

reference: a-snv01-98702

Image Size 300 DPI: 40 * 51 cm

Sometime during 23 February 1987 a supernova exploded in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), a nearby galaxy. However, the LMC is about 170,000 light years distant, so the supernova exploded 170,000 years ago. It was discovered the following day and brightened rapidly to become the first supernova to be easily visible to the unaided eye for almost 400 years. This photograph shows the field around the site of the supernova in great detail about 10 days afterwards, when it was still brightening.

Keywords for this photo:

1987 - AAO - ASTRONOMY - DORADO - EVOLUTION - POSTER - SIDING SPRING - SN 1987A - SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE - STAR - SUPERNOVA - TYPE II -