February 23 is reserved to "Neutrino Astronomy"

February 23 is reserved to "Neutrino Astronomy"
On this day 30 years ago, light and neutrinos arrived on Earth from a cataclysmic stellar explosion that took place about 170,000 light-years away. The event, called Supernova 1987A, was the first supernova visible to the naked eye in nearly 400 years.

Although the bright light tipped off astronomers to the event, tiny particles called neutrinos actually arrived first. A few dozen were spotted by detectors around the world, marking the birth of neutrino astronomy. Thirty years later, scientists are still studying the remains of the supernova to learn how giant stars explode. Researchers are also detecting other neutrinos from beyond the solar system.

Article:
http://earthsky.org/space/supernova-1987a-closest-brightest-supernova-star-death
http://physicstoday.scitation.org/do/10.1063/PT.5.9087/full/

Image:
This diagram shows SN 1987A's triple-ring system. The supernova's shock wave slammed into regions along the inner ring, heating them up and causing them to glow. The first hotspot appeared in the 1990s; now, two decades later, they're beginning to fade.
Credit: NASA / ESA / A. Feild (STScI)

#history #neutrinos #SN1987A #science #nasa #universe #space