Herschel Detects a Massive Dust Reservoir in Supernova 1987A

TL;DR

This study reports the detection of a large mass of cold dust in Supernova 1987A using far-infrared and submillimeter observations, suggesting supernovae can produce significant dust quantities.

Contribution

First direct measurement of substantial dust mass in SN 1987A's ejecta, indicating supernovae as major dust sources in early galaxies.

Findings

Detected ~0.4-0.7 solar mass of dust in SN 1987A

Dust temperature estimated at 17-23 K

Implication that supernovae contribute to dust in high-redshift galaxies

Abstract

We report far-infrared and submillimeter observations of Supernova 1987A, the star that exploded on February 23, 1987 in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a galaxy located 160,000 lightyears away. The observations reveal the presence of a population of cold dust grains radiating with a temperature of ~17-23 K at a rate of about 220 solar luminosity. The intensity and spectral energy distribution of the emission suggests a dust mass of ~0.4-0.7 solar mass. The radiation must originate from the SN ejecta and requires the efficient precipitation of all refractory material into dust. Our observations imply that supernovae can produce the large dust masses detected in young galaxies at very high redshifts.