New Delhi: Three decades from Supernova 1987A discovery, astronomers unveiled its picture on the 24th of February, 2017. This great supernova identified in 1987 from the Large Magellanic Cloud, a companion galaxy to the Milky Way, still exceeds the expectations of astronomers because of its spectacular bright light.
Discovered on February 23, 1987, Supernova 1987A is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating stellar explosions ever recorded. It shone at 100 million Sun’s worth of light and meant that Chapman managed to observe one of the closest supernova explosions to be observed by today’s astronomers for over 400 years. The blast was from a collapsing blue supergiant star that was beyond its lifespan, so it exploded, synchronising shockwaves, glows, and light all over the universe.
The above astronomical picture, the released image, presents a real aftermath of such a monstrous event accompanied by bright red clouds of gas and dust, which are the result of the outer layers of the star thrown into perishing space. These clouds remain illuminated as they receive energy from the radiation of the explosion and give a splendid and changing view from the length of Earth.
Holding This Big Heap at Its Core
That is why the explosion of the star Supernova 1987A offers astronomers the unique chance to observe such a star in its last days. While most supernovae, which are discovered far away all over the universe, have their light reaching us years later after the explosion, for SN 1987A scientists have been able to watch the phases before, during, and after the death of the star in what is virtually live coverage.
It also has given new information about the formation of a neutron star. A neutron star, which astronomers believed would be left behind in the middle of the blast, has not been spotted yet, although they expected to find it. This unknown plus the continued activity of the supernova makes SN 1987A an object of great interest in astrophysics.
The Legacy of Supernova 1987A
In its discovery three decades ago, SN 1987A has remained a source of light in the universe that is still beyond the traveller’s known frontier. This close, powerful, and persistent radio source makes it a special case for the study of astro-physical activity: stellar evolution, supernovae, and the synthesis of the elements.
There is always promise that as SN 1987A’s remnant clouds alter themselves, insight into these incredible cataclysmic events will be realised little by little.
