Supernova 1987a was discovered at 5:30 a.m. Greenwich mean time on February 24, 1987, by Ian Shelton, from the University of Toronto, while he was working at the Las Campa├▒as Observatory in Chile. To date, it is the closest supernova to be scrutinized with a modern array of astronomical equipment. Someday there will be another, but until then Supernova 1987a will remain the best laboratory for studying one of the most violent events in the universe.
