Summary of gamma-ray observations of SN 1987A

Gamma‐ray line and continuum observations of SN 1987A through May 1988 are reviewed and discussed. It is shown that the measurements are reasonably consistent with each other if the latest values are used and if line width and systematic uncertainties are taken into account. The light curve of the line and continuum fluxes, the line ratios, and the line widths all indicate that the freshly synthesized 56Co producing the emssion is not confined to a thin shell at the inner edge of the ejecta as early models had assumed.