Chronicling an Era: 15 Years of SN 1987A with Chandra
Abstract
Due to its close proximity, the remnant of SN 1987A is the only supernova remnant in which we can study the early developmental stages in detail, providing insight into stellar evolution, the mechanisms of the supernova explosion, and the transition from supernova to supernova remnant as the debris begins to interact with the surrounding CSM. We present here 15 years of X-ray observations with Chandra, including 4 new observations. The X-ray emission traces the progress of the blast wave and functions as a probe of the CSM. About 5000 days after the explosion, the blast wave began impacting the fringes of a dense equatorial ring. With Chandra, we are able to resolve this ring in X-ray images and monitor how it changes over time. We measure the apparent expansion rate of the ring, finding a sudden decrease in the velocity, from ~9000 km/s to ~2000 km/s, as the blast wave impacted the main body of the ring near day 5700. The soft X-ray flux has steadily increased, indicating the blast wave has continued to move through dense material. However, the latest observations suggest the flux has leveled off, a sign that the blast wave may be exiting the ring and on the verge of illuminating the previously unseen material beyond.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #225
- Pub Date:
- January 2015
- Bibcode:
- 2015AAS...22520504F