Supernova
SN 1987A
The nearest supernova of the telescope era (1987)
The remnant of the blue supergiant Sanduleak −69° 202, which exploded on 23 February 1987; the first object from which supernova neutrinos were detected. Hubble and JWST have shown the blast wave hitting rings ejected 20,000 years earlier and, in 2024, traces of the neutron star at the centre.
| Type | Supernova |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Dorado |
| Host galaxy | Large Magellanic Cloud |
| Distance | 51.4 kpc |
| Explosion | 23 February 1987 |
| Progenitor | Sanduleak −69° 202 (blue supergiant) |
| Peak magnitude | 2,9 |
| Neutrinos | 25 detected (Kamiokande, IMB, Baksan) |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 5h 35m 28.0s |
| Declination (J2000) | −69° 16′ 11″ |
In the sky
Visible from the whole Southern Hemisphere and north to latitude 21° N. South of latitude 21° S it never sets. It stands highest at midnight in December, the best time to observe it.