The evolution of supernova 1987A, as shown by pictures taken by the Hubble Space Telescope between 1994 and 2016. Since its launch in 1990, the Hubble telescope has observed the expanding dust cloud of SN 1987A several times and helped astronomers create a better understanding of these cosmic explosions. The growing number of bright spots on the ring is produced by an onslaught of material unleashed by the explosion. The shock wave hits the ring's innermost regions, heating them up and causing them to glow.