NGC 2070: 30 Doradus: Tarantula Nebula (2009 Sept 16)

[bystander]

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090916.html

Is that SN 1987A in the top left?

The Tarantula Nebula (also known as 30 Doradus, or NGC 2070) is an H II region in the Large Magellanic Cloud. It was originally thought to be a star, but in 1751 Nicolas Louis de Lacaille recognized its nebular nature.

The Tarantula Nebula has an apparent magnitude of 8. Considering its distance of about 180,000 light years, this is an extremely luminous non-stellar object. Its luminosity is so great that if it were as close to Earth as the Orion Nebula, the Tarantula Nebula would cast shadows.
...
At its core lies the extremely compact cluster of stars - R136a - that produces most of the energy that makes the nebula visible. The estimated mass of the cluster is 450,000 solar masses, suggesting it will likely become a globular cluster in the future.

In addition to R136, the Tarantula Nebula also contains an older star cluster—catalogued as Hodge 301—with an age of 20–25 million years. The most massive stars of this cluster have already exploded in supernovae.

The closest supernova observed since the invention of the telescope, Supernova 1987A, occurred in the outskirts of the Tarantula Nebula.

• Tarantula Nebula, R136a (center), Hodge 301 (top right) ESO

[neufer]

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090916.html

Is that SN 1987A in the top left?

No...

Slightly below dead center of http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090916.html
there is a structure that looks like a slice of bread with a target in its center.

SN 1987A is half a bread slice width off the bottom right tip of that bread slice:


http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap030823.html
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap951027.html
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/ ... abels2.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... -1987a.jpg

[bystander]

No...

Slightly below dead center of http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090916.html
there is a structure that looks like a slice of bread with a target in its center.

SN 1987A is half a bread slice width off the bottom right tip of that bread slice:

Thanks, Art!

Not sure what I was thinking, perhaps V838 Mon.