SN 1987A: The Unusual Explosion of a Normal Type II Supernova
  I review the unwrapping story the SN 1987A explosion event, and the main discoveries associated with it. I will show that, although this supernova is somewhat peculiar, the study of SN 1987A has clarified quite a number of important aspects of the nature and the properties of supernovae in general. 
Nino Panagia (ESA/STScI)