Supernova 1987a explosion (image 4 of 5). Computer simulation of a star exploding as Supernova 1987a 7240 seconds after its core collapsed. Density in
Supernova 1987a explosion (image 4 of 5). Computer simulation of a star exploding as Supernova 1987a 7240 seconds after its core collapsed. Density increases from black through red and orange to white. Metals fom the star's core have slammed into a dense shell (bright orange) at the star's hydrogen-helium boundary. This creates turbulence in the shell and leads to instabilities in its 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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Photo credit: © KONSTANTINOS KIFONIDIS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: -69, 1987a, 202, 7240, astronomy, cosmology, death, density, explosion, matter, model, sanduleak, science, seconds, sequence, simulation, star, stellar, supernova
