Josefin

Due to its proximity SN 1987A offers a unique opportunity to directly observe the geometry of a stellar explosion as it unfolds. In this talk I will present recent spectral and imaging observations of SN 1987A obtained with HST and VLT/SINFONI at optical and NIR wavelengths. These observations make it possible to determine the three-dimensional distribution of different emission lines from the ejecta, including H$alpha$, [Ca II]~$lambda lambda 7292, 7324$, [O~I]~$lambda lambda 6300, 6364$, [Si~I]$+$[Fe~II]$ 1.644 mu$m and He I $2.058~mu$m. The geometry is highly asymmetric, showing a $”$dipole structure$”$ with a north/south asymmetry on large scales, as well as clumping on smaller scales. The observed asymmetries are much larger than seen in current 3D explosion models. The SINFONI observations also reveal the first detection of molecular hydrogen in the ejecta. The molecular hydrogen is concentrated to the core and is likely excited by UV radiation resulting from the $^{44}$Ti decay.