SN 1987A

Forums Spectroscopy Spectroscopes SN 1987A

#581306
Robin Leadbeater
Participant

Yes the progenitor of the LMC supernova SN 1987A, Sanduleak -69 202 had been catalogued spectroscopically as a blue supergiant prior to it going supernova.  I am not aware of any observed outbursts before it exploded though.  

If 2010oct and 2017ein (correction 201oct and 2019cda) don’t turn out to be the same object then other examples of impostors apparently later exploding for real as supernovae are 2006jc and 2009ip