AAO image reference AAT 50 and AAT 50a (with arrow). « Previous || Next »
Top left is NE. Width of each image is about 8 arc min
Roll mouse over picture to see arrow (image AAT 50a)
Image and text © 1989-2010, Australian Astronomical Observatory, photograph by David Malin.
This photograph shows the field around the site of the supernova in great detail, both before the supernova exploded (right) and about 10 days afterwards, when it was still brightening. The image of the star that exploded to create the supernova (mouseover the image) is elongated. This does not necessarily indicate any peculiarity or a close companion, rather it is the effect of stars being by chance aligned along the line of sight. Several other examples can be seen in this picture and other, different, blended images are seen in the photograph of the same field taken two weeks after the supernova appeared (left). The pre-supernova plates were taken over about 90 minutes on the night of 1984 February 5, centred on the Tarantula nebula, and were used to make to make AAT 44, AAT 49 and the negative overlay in AAT 48b. The post-supernova plates (LHS image) were exposed for a total of about an hour on the night of 1987 March 8.
The difference in image quality ('seeing') between these pictures is an effect of the Earth's atmosphere which was much steadier when the plates used to make the pre-supernova picture were taken.
Related Images
AAT 48. The Tarantula Nebula and supernova 1987a in the Large Magellanic Cloud
AAT 48b. Supernova 1987A, the star, in March 1987
AAT 49. The Tarantula Nebula, before supernova SN1987A
UKS 15b. Before and after images of SN1987A
AAT 66. The light echo of supernova 1987A
AAT 67. Supernova 1987a after 4 years
Constellation of Dorado (external site)
For details of photographic exposure, search technical table by AAT reference number