SN1987A

cults3d

On March 23, 1987, astrophysicists detected a novel radiance in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), a compact satellite galaxy of the Milky Way. Shortly thereafter, researchers confirmed that this newfound luminescence was actually an extraordinary explosion triggered by the demise of a colossal star. It was a supernova. These 3D prints showcase the SN 1987A supernova remnant at its current observed age of 30 years, based on 3D simulations by Salvatore Orlando. The shockwave from the supernova has slammed into a pre-existing halo of gas, propelling masses of this gas upward and downward. Small masses of gas that were isolated from other masses or from the halo were omitted from the model using 3D animation software for simplification. Author/Origin: Salvatore Orlando (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo) & NASA/CXC/SAO/A.Jubett et al.