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Mosaic of Supernova 1987A

Mosaic of Supernova 1987A

About the Object

  • R.A. Position
    R.A. PositionRight ascension – analogous to longitude – is one component of an object's position.
    05h 35m 28.25s
  • Dec. Position
    Dec. PositionDeclination – analogous to latitude – is one component of an object's position.
    -69° 16' 13.0"
  • Constellation
    ConstellationOne of 88 recognized regions of the celestial sphere in which the object appears.
    Dorado
  • Distance
    DistanceThe physical distance from Earth to the astronomical object. Distances within our solar system are usually measured in Astronomical Units (AU). Distances between stars are usually measured in light-years. Interstellar distances can also be measured in parsecs.
    The supernova is 51.4 kpc (168,000 light years) away. [Panagia 1999]

About the Data

  • Data Description
    Data DescriptionProposal: A description of the observations, their scientific justification, and the links to the data available in the science archive.
    Science Team: The astronomers who planned the observations and analyzed the data. "PI" refers to the Principal Investigator.
    Principal Astronomers: R. Kirshner (Harvard/CfA), N. Panagia (STScI), M. Romaniello (ESO) and collaborators
  • Instrument
    InstrumentThe science instrument used to produce the data.
    HST>WFPC2
  • Exposure Dates
    Exposure DatesThe date(s) that the telescope made its observations and the total exposure time.
    September 1994, February 1996, July 1997, Exposure Time: 8.3 hours
  • Filters
    FiltersThe camera filters that were used in the science observations.
    F439W (B), F502N ([O III]), F555W (V), F656N (H-alpha), F675W (R)
  • Object Name
    Object NameA name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.
    SN 1987A in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC)
  • Object Description
    Object DescriptionThe type of astronomical object.
    Supernova Remnant
  • Release Date
    February 4, 1999
  • Science Release
    SN1987A in the Large Magellanic Cloud
    Read the release
  • Credit
    The Hubble Heritage Team (AURA/STScI/NASA)

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Related Images & Videos

Supernova 1987A in the Large Magellanic Cloud

Supernova 1987A in the Large Magellanic Cloud

Glittering stars and wisps of gas create a breathtaking backdrop for the self-destruction of a massive star, called supernova 1987A, in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a nearby galaxy. Astronomers in the Southern hemisphere witnessed the brilliant explosion of this star on Feb. 23,...

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Details

Last Updated
Mar 28, 2025
Contact
Media

Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov

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