The star that exploded on February 23 in the Large Magellanic Cloud

The star that exploded on February 23 in the Large Magellanic Cloud (the progenitor of supernova 1987A) has now been identified. It was catalogued by in 1969 as an OB star of 12th magnitude and given the designation Sanduleak-69 202. Observations at the European Southern Observatory in the mid-1970's allowed to classify it as of spectral type B3 I, that is a very hot, supergiant star.

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ESO

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About the Image

Id:	eso8705b
Type:	Observation
Release date:	3 March 1987
Related releases:	eso8705
Size:	1374 x 1761 px

About the Object

Name:	LMC, Sanduleak-69 202
Type:	• Local Universe : Star : Evolutionary Stage : Blue Supergiant • Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Irregular
Category:	• Stars

Image Formats

Fullsize Original

1.6��MB

Large JPEG

810.7��KB

Screensize JPEG

486.6��KB

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