Galactic Twins of the Ring Nebula Around SN1987A and a Possible LBV-like Phase for Sk-69 202

TL;DR

This paper explores the formation of the ring nebula around SN1987A and suggests it may have originated from an LBV-like event, providing insights into supernova progenitor evolution and circumstellar asymmetries.

Contribution

It proposes a new hypothesis that SN1987A's nebula was ejected during an LBV-like phase, challenging previous wind-interaction models.

Findings

SN1987A's nebula may have been ejected in an LBV-like event.

Similar nebulae around Galactic B supergiants support this hypothesis.

Implications for understanding supernova progenitor evolution.

Abstract

Some core-collapse supernovae show clear signs of interaction with dense circumstellar material that often appears to be non-spherical. Circumstellar nebulae around supernova progenitors provide clues to the origin of that asymmetry in immediate pre-supernova evolution. Here I discuss outstanding questions about the formation of the ring nebula around SN1987A and some implications of similar ring nebulae around Galactic B supergiants. Several clues hint that SN1987A's nebula may have been ejected in an LBV-like event, rather than through interacting winds in a transition from a red supergiant to a blue supergiant.