Supernova 1987A (NIRCam Image)

Supernova 1987A (NIRCam Image)

Webb’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) captured this detailed image of SN 1987A (Supernova 1987A). At the center, material ejected from the supernova forms a keyhole shape. Just to its left and right are faint crescents newly discovered by Webb. Beyond them an equatorial ring, formed from material ejected tens of thousands of years before the supernova explosion, contains bright hot spots. Exterior to that is diffuse emission and two faint outer rings. In this image blue represents light at 1.5 microns (F150W), cyan 1.64 and 2.0 microns (F164N, F200W), yellow 3.23 microns (F323N), orange 4.05 microns (F405N), and red 4.44 microns (F444W).

Credits

Science

NASA, ESA, CSA, Mikako Matsuura (Cardiff University), Richard Arendt (NASA-GSFC, UMBC), Claes Fransson (Stockholm University), Josefin Larsson (KTH)

Image Processing

Alyssa Pagan (STScI)

About The Object
Object Name SN 1987A
Object Description Supernova Remnant
R.A. Position 05:35:28.03
Dec. Position -69:16:11.8
Constellation Dorado
Distance Approximately 163,000 light-years (50 kiloparsecs) away
Dimensions Image is about 10.8 arcseconds across (8.5 lightyears)
About The Data
Data Description This image was created with Webb data from proposal: (M. Matsuura)
Instrument NIRCam
Exposure Dates 1-2 September 2022
Filters F150W; F164N; F200W; F323N; F405N; F444W
About The Image
Color Info This image is a composite of separate exposures acquired by the James Webb Space Telescope using the NIRCam instrument. Several filters were used to sample specific wavelength ranges. The color results from assigning different hues (colors) to each monochromatic (grayscale) image associated with an individual filter. In this case, the assigned colors are:  Blue: F150W, Cyan: F164N, Cyan: F200W, Yellow: F323N, Orange: F405N, Red: F444W
Compass Image A supernova. The center of the image contains a dense green cloud, shaped like a keyhole. Within this keyhole, there is a dark spot, composed of even denser gas. Outside of this cloud of gas is a ring of dense orange gas and dust that becomes more diffused as it travels further away from the center. The innermost part of this dense orange ring contains brighter orange clumps of glowing gas. Outside of these structures, both above and below them, are very faint orange rings of gas and dust. There are several bright white stars, three of which show an eight-pronged diffraction pattern brought about by the Webb Space Telescope. Several other white stars are strewn throughout the image.
About The Object
Object Name A name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.
Object Description The type of astronomical object.
R.A. Position Right ascension – analogous to longitude – is one component of an object's position.
Dec. Position Declination – analogous to latitude – is one component of an object's position.
Constellation One of 88 recognized regions of the celestial sphere in which the object appears.
Distance The physical distance from Earth to the astronomical object. Distances within our solar system are usually measured in Astronomical Units (AU). Distances between stars are usually measured in light-years. Interstellar distances can also be measured in parsecs.
Dimensions The physical size of the object or the apparent angle it subtends on the sky.
About The Data
Data Description
  • Proposal: A description of the observations, their scientific justification, and the links to the data available in the science archive.
  • Science Team: The astronomers who planned the observations and analyzed the data. "PI" refers to the Principal Investigator.
Instrument The science instrument used to produce the data.
Exposure Dates The date(s) that the telescope made its observations and the total exposure time.
Filters The camera filters that were used in the science observations.
About The Image
Image Credit The primary individuals and institutions responsible for the content.
Publication Date The date and time the release content became public.
Color Info A brief description of the methods used to convert telescope data into the color image being presented.
Orientation The rotation of the image on the sky with respect to the north pole of the celestial sphere.

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