Publication Date:
2019-07-12
Description:
The distance to SN 1987A was determined by comparing the angular size of its circumstellar ring, measured from an HST image obtained in a narrow forbidden O III 5007 A filter, with its absolute size derived from an analysis of the light curves of narrow UV lines measured with the IUE. The analysis confirms that the observed elliptical structure is a circular ring seen at a mean inclination of i = 42.8 + or - 2.6 deg and provides a determination of its absolute diameter of (1.27 + or - 0.07) x 10 to the 18th cm. Its ratio to the angular diameter of 1.66 + or - 0.03 arcsec gives an accurate determination of the distance to SN 1987A, i.e., d(1987A) = 51.2 + or - 3.1 kpc.
Keywords:
ASTROPHYSICS
Type:
Astrophysical Journal, Part 2 - Letters (ISSN 0004-637X); 380; L23-L26
Format:
text
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