2025ApJ...993..213P

We present JWST/Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) and complementary ground-based near-infrared observations of the Type II SN 2017eaw taken 6 yr postexplosion. SN 2017eaw is still detected out to 25 μm and there is minimal evolution in the mid-infrared spectral energy distribution (SED) between the newly acquired JWST/MIRI observations and those taken a year earlier. Modeling of the mid-infrared SED reveals a cool ∼160 K dust component of 5.5 × 10^–4M_⊙ and a hot ∼1700 K component of 5.4 × 10^–8M_⊙, both composed of silicate dust. Notably, there is no evidence of temperature or mass evolution in the cool dust component in the year between JWST observations. We also present new and archival HST and ground-based ultraviolet (UV) and optical observations which reveal reduced but continued circumstellar medium (CSM)-ejecta interaction at >2000 days postexplosion. The UV and mid-infrared emission show similar decline rates, suggesting both probe the interface between the ejecta and CSM. Given the continued existence of boxy Hα emission in the nebular spectra, the low inferred optical depth of the dust, and the lack of temperature and mass evolution, we suggest that the cool dust component in SN 2017eaw may be primarily due to pre-existing dust rather than newly formed dust in the ejecta or cold dense shell.