Possible binary star progenitor for SN1987A
Abstract
Accurate optical astrometry gives a position (B 1950.0) for the Large Magellanic Cloud supernova, SN1987A, relative to the FK4 system as right ascension, RA = 05 h 35min 49.95 s+/- 0.039s (0.21''), declination δ -69° 17' 57.9'' +/-0.27''. Differential astrometry carried out on prime-focus plates taken with the Anglo-Australian telescope indicates that the component, star 1, of Sanduleak's star Sk-69202 is within 0.05+/-0.13arcs of the super-nova. Here we report that this precision astrometry, together with estimates of the probability of a chance association with a fore-ground or background star, lead us to conclude that the progenitor of SN1987A was star 1 or a fainter binary companion.
- Publication:
-
Nature
- Pub Date:
- May 1987
- DOI:
- 10.1038/327036a0
- Bibcode:
- 1987Natur.327...36W
- Keywords:
-
- Astrometry;
- Binary Stars;
- Magellanic Clouds;
- Nebulae;
- Stellar Evolution;
- Supernova 1987a;
- Companion Stars;
- Faint Objects;
- Iue;
- Astronomy