On This Day in 1987: Light From Supernova 1987A Reaches Earth | WeatherBug
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On This Day in 1987: Light From Supernova 1987A Reaches Earth

February 24, 2021
By WeatherBug's Christopher Smith
A massive star explosion in space on this day in 1987 was so captivating because it could be seen here on Earth. 

A supernova is an explosion of a star that is very bright and is named for the year it was discovered. One of these explosions occurred in 1987 and was given the name Supernova 1987A. 

Light from Supernova 1987A is located in the Large Magellanic Cloud. This is a separate galaxy from the Milky Way that houses our solar system and is 163,000 light years away from Earth. Scientists estimate the explosion began in 161,000 B.C., and the light just became visible on Earth February 22,1987. It took almost 163,000 years for light to reach Earth from this supernova! 

Supernova 1987A is quite impressive and stands out to scientists of our time. It was the brightest stellar explosion witnessed by astronomers in more than 400 years and that’s because the explosion has the power of 100 million suns!

Observing this astronomical phenomenon through the Hubble Telescope has provided insight to astronomers on how stars’ lives come to an end. One critical finding was that the demise of the star possibly was indicated at least 20,000 years before the explosion by a glowing gas ring in place around the star.

In addition to finding clues about a star’s lifecycle, studying supernovas is important since the explosions create elements such as carbon and iron. These elements can go on to create new stars and planets, possibly even one on that can accommodate humans. 

Supernova 198A continues to provide fascinating views to astronomers and the gas ring around the exploding star is expected to glow brighter in the future, giving even more information of the star’s surroundings.

Sources: harvard.edu, nasa.gov
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Story Image: The Hubble Telescope shows Supernova 1987A (NASA).