The Ten-Year Photometric Evolution of SN 1987A

Abstract

Ten years of photometric observations of SN 1987A are reviewed. The optical and near-infrared colors are now declining at less than 1 magnitude per 1000 days, which is consistent with both the infrared ``freeze-out'' and the possible energy sources powering the nebula. The ``uvoir'' bolometric luminosity at ten years is estimated to be log10(L) 36.1-36.4 ergs/s. The most recent photometric measurements are given in Table 1. A deep color-magnitude diagram shows that the young stars are concentrated within a projected distance of 25" (6pc) in a field out to 3' from the supernova. It is likely that Stars 2 and 3 which project to within 0.7pc of the supernova are associated with Sk -69 202.

paspconf style, 8 pages, 3 figures. To appear in "SN1987A: Ten Years After," The Fifth CTIO/ESO/LCO Workshop, 22-28 Feb 1997, La Serena, Chile, editors M.M. Phillips and N.B. Suntzeff, ASP Conference Series