Supernova 1987a explosion (image 5 of 5). Computer simulation of a star exploding as Supernova 1987a 10,000 seconds after its core collapsed. Density

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Supernova 1987a explosion (image 5 of 5). Computer simulation of a star exploding as Supernova 1987a 10,000 seconds after its core collapsed. Density increases from black through red and orange to white. Most of the material from the core has now permeated the very dense shell (pale orange) at the star's hydrogen-helium boundary, leading to turbulence and instabilities at the shell's outer boundary. Supernova 1987a was the explosive death of the blue supergiant star Sanduleak -69 202. Work done at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics in Germany. See images R732/041-45 for the explosion sequence.

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Size: 5193px × 2733px
Photo credit: © KONSTANTINOS KIFONIDIS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -69, 1987a, 202, 10000, astronomy, cosmology, death, density, explosion, matter, model, sanduleak, science, seconds, sequence, simulation, star, stellar, supernova