Close-Up Supernova
In 1987, astronomers were given a treat when light from nearby star’s supernova reached Earth. Visible to the naked eye from the Southern Hemisphere, SN 1987A was one of the closest supernovas seen with modern telescopes, helping scientists to understand the underlying dynamics of these events. Detectors online at the time recorded neutrinos originating from SN 1987A, which went a long way in helping dispel a later observation that neutrinos could travel faster than light.
Image: Dr. Christopher Burrows, NASA, ESA/STScI, and Hubble Heritage Team