Spectroscopic and photometric observations of SN 1987A – III. Days 135 to 260

• DOI: 10.1093/mnras/231.1.75p
• Publication Date: 2014-07-20T21:49:43Z
• Authors: R. M. Catchpole; P. A. Whitelock; M. W. Feast; J. w. Menzies; I. S. Glass; F. Marang; J. D. Laing; J. H. Spencer Jones; G. Roberts; L. A. Balona; B. S. Carter; C. D. Laney; Lloyd T. Evans; K. Sekiguchi; M. G. Hutchinson; R. Maddison; J. Albinson; A. Evans; D. A. Allen; H. Winkler; A. Fairall; C. Corbally; J. K. Davies; Q. A. Parker
• Keywords: Signal To Noise Ratios; Supernova 1987a; Cassegrain Optics; Astronomical Photometry; 0103 physical sciences; Spectroscopic Analysis; Magellanic Clouds; Lyman Alpha Radiation; Neutrino Beams; Ubv Spectra; 01 natural sciences

The authors present spectroscopic and UBV(RI)cJHKL photometric observations of SN 1987A in the Large Magellanic Cloud made at the Sutherland field station of SAAO for days 135 to 260 after the Kamiokande-II neutrino event. Some 5, 10 and 20 mum data obtained at SAAO and 5 mum photometry from the AAO are also given. During this period the bolometric magnitude of the supernova has declined linearly and an excess due to molecular CO emission has appeared at M(4.8 mum). The linear decline rate in bolometric magnitude provides direct evidence that the radioactive decay of 56Co is the source of the energy.