Moving Echoes Around SN 1987A
Explanation:
Yesterday's image
highlighted reflective rings of light emitted by a
supernova explosion.
Today's pictures, taken over a year apart,
highlight how these echoes are seen to move over time.
Visible on the left of each picture is part of a reflective ring,
an existing
dust cloud momentarily
illuminated by the light of
Supernova 1987A. Note how the nebulosity reflecting
the most light occurs farther to the left in the lower photograph.
If you look closely, you can see the actual location of
SN 1987A itself on the right
of each photograph: it appears in the center of a small yellowish ring.
The apparent motion and brightness of these echoes help astronomers
understand the abundance and distribution of
interstellar nebulae
in the
LMC galaxy,
where the
stellar explosion occurred.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
