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Arxiv: JWST MIRI Imager Observations of Supernova SN 1987A Published: 2/21/2024 8:52:45 PM Updated: 2/21/2024 8:52:45 PM

Paper abstract: There exist very few mid-infrared (IR) observations of supernovae (SNe) ingeneral. Therefore, SN 1987A, the closest visible SN in 400 years, gives us theopportunity to explore the mid-IR properties of SNe, the dust in their ejectaand surrounding medium, and to witness the birth of a SN remnant (SNR). TheJames Webb Space Telescope (JWST), with its high spatial resolution and extremesensitivity, gives a new view on these issues. We report on the first imagingobservations obtained with the Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI). We buildtemperature maps and discuss the morphology of the nascent SNR. Our resultsshow that the temperatures in the equatorial ring (ER) are quite non-uniform.This could be due to dust destruction in some parts of the ring, as had beenassumed in some previous works. We show that the IR emission extends beyond theER, illustrating the fact that the shock wave has now passed through this ringto affect the circumstellar medium on a larger scale. Finally, while sub-mmAtacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) observations have hinted at the locationof the compact remnant of SN 1987A, we note that our MIRI data have found nosuch evidence.