On the emergence and discovery of hot spots in SNR 1987A

We present the discovery of several new regions of interaction between the ejecta and equatorial circumstellar ring of SN 1987A, an interaction leadin g to a much-expanded development of the supernova remnant. We also trace th e development of the first such "hot spot," discovered in 1997, back to 199 5. Later hot spots seem to have emerged by early 1999. We discuss mechanism s for the long delay between the first and later spots.