What diagnostic technique allows astronomers to map the geometry of the pre-ejected material over several years for SN 1987A?
Answer
Tracking the time delay of brightening events as the shockwave crosses fixed material locations.
Since the pre-ejected material is stationary relative to the star's center and the shockwave moves outward, the time delay between when the shock reaches different parts of the material creates a sequence of brightening events that maps the material's geometry.
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