Google Earth Community: Supernova 1987A

Supernova SN1987A, in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a small neighboring satellite galaxy about 163,000 light-years away. On February 23, 1987, astronomers spotted the brightest stellar explosion since the one observed by Johannes Kepler 400 years earlier. Called SN 1987A (SN for supernova), the supernova was as powerful as 100 million suns for several months following its discovery. The star was 20 times more massive than the Sun. A few years later the supernova was a million times fainter, but a new light show appeared in the space surrounding it, as a massive shock wave of charged particles heated gases in the ring about one light year in diameter.

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Pic is Mount Diablo, California; it is also the point setting for my snapshot default, because it is one of the most meaningful geographic places in the world.

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