A Three-Ringed Circus
Depicts: SN 1987A
Copyright: P. Challis (CfA)
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This Hubble Space Telescope image, taken in February 1994 with the
Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2, shows the full system of three
rings of glowing gas surrounding supernova 1987A. Located in a small
galaxy called the Large Magellanic Cloud, the supernova is a massive
star that exploded in about 165,000 BC, but its light didn't arrive
here until February 1987.
Last Update: 1 September 2019