In units of the Sun's mass, the original mass of the star that exploded to form supernova 1987A was probably about

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The original mass of the star that exploded to form supernova 1987A was probably about 20 times the mass of the Sun. Stars that end their lives in supernova explosions typically have original masses greater than about 8 solar masses, and observations of supernova 1987A and its remnants suggest a progenitor star with a mass around 20 solar masses.

In Units of the Sun's Mass, the Original Mass of the Star