Born on February 23
Supernova 1987A
The night a star said goodbye.
Next: February 23, 2027
Where it comes from
This Story marks the anniversary of 23 February 1987, when news of an exploding star first reached Earth. That day two large underground detectors, one in Japan and one in the USA, registered a burst of high-energy neutrinos.
How it's celebrated
There is no formal observance, but observatories such as ESO in Chile mark round-number anniversaries with new images and look-backs at what the star taught them. The supernova sits in a southern sky, so on a clear, dark night anyone in the southern hemisphere can find the Large Magellanic Cloud, where it happened.
Did you know
It gave astronomers several firsts, including the first detection of neutrinos from an exploding star and the first sighting of the star itself on older photographic plates.
Read the full story of Supernova 1987A
Star sign
Pisces · February 19 – March 20 · Water sign
Dreamy and kind, with an artist's imagination.