The Tarantula Nebula, before supernova SN1987A

by: Anglo-Australian Observatory/David Malin Images/Novapix
Reference: a-snv01-98710
Date: 2006-09-17

By great good fortune, the star (Sanduleak -69°202) which exploded as the supernova, had been observed some years previously and was found to be a typical young, bluish star, much hotter and brighter than stars like the Sun. There are many similar stars in this part of the LMC which is dominated by the spectacular red cloud of the Tarantula Nebula. It in such nebulae that stars are formed, often in compact groups such as those scattered across this photograph, which was taken in 1984.

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