NASA releases new animations of a star that exploded with the energy of 100 million suns
Supernova 1987A became one of the best opportunities ever for astronomers to study the phases before, during, and after the death of a star, says NASA
New animations released by NASA are recasting a groundbreaking astronomical moment in a whole new light.
On February 24, 1987, astronomers Oscar Dhalde and Ian Shelton witnessed an incredible sight atop a Chilean mountain: a new star in the night sky. Soon, however, they realised it was not a star’s birth; rather, it was a blue supergiant meeting its doom.
In that moment, the fusion-powered core of the star — previously called Sanduleak −69° 202 — began to falter. Most astronomers agree the blast happened because the star’s core ran low on high-energy fuel, while some believe another star merged with the blue supergiant to trigger the blast.
Whatever the cause, the star collapsed under its own gravity, exploded, spewed its radioactive guts all over space, and generated the power of 100 million suns in the process. We now call the object Supernova 1987A, or SN 1987A.
It was not only the brightest supernova seen for hundreds of years, but also the first time astronomers recorded such an event with modern, high-tech instruments.