Energetic Ring Marks Spot That Leads to Discovery of Neutron Star

Chandra_128_1024

chandra_128 June 25th, 2002

Credit: NASA/CXC/U.Mass/F.Lu et al.

Chandra's image of this supernova remnant shows a bright ring of high-energy particles with a central point-like source. This observation enabled scientists to use the giant Arecibo Radio Telescope to search for and locate the pulsar, or neutron star that powers the ring. The ring of particles and two jet-like structures appear to be due to the energetic flow of radiation and particles from the rapidly spinning neutron star rotating 7 times per second. These discoveries will help scientists better understand how neutron stars channel enormous amounts of energy into particles moving near the speed of light.

Provider: Chandra X-ray Observatory

Image Source: http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2002/g541/

Curator: Chandra X-ray Observatory, Cambridge, MA, USA

Image Use Policy: http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/image_use.html

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Image Details

Image Type
Observation
Object Name
G54.1+0.3
Subject - Milky Way
Nebula > Type > Supernova Remnant

Distance

Universescale1
20,000 light years

Position Details

Position (ICRS)
RA = 19h 30m 30.0s
DEC = 18° 52’ 17.2”
Constellation
Sagitta

Color Mapping

  Telescope Spectral Band Wavelength
Pseudocolor Chandra (ACIS) X-ray (X-ray) 826.7 pm
Spectrum_xray1
Pseudocolor
Chandra_128_1280
×
ID
128
Subject Category
B.4.1.4  
Subject Name
G54.1+0.3
Credits
NASA/CXC/U.Mass/F.Lu et al.
Release Date
2002-06-25
Lightyears
20,000
Redshift
20,000
Reference Url
http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2002/g541/
Type
Observation
Image Quality
Good
Distance Notes
Facility
Chandra
Instrument
ACIS
Color Assignment
Pseudocolor
Band
X-ray
Bandpass
X-ray
Central Wavelength
0.8267
Start Time
2001-06-06T18:10:18
Integration Time
38900
Dataset ID
1983
Notes
Coordinate Frame
ICRS
Equinox
J2000
Reference Value
292.6249040, 18.8714376
Reference Dimension
Reference Pixel
Scale
Rotation
Coordinate System Projection:
Quality
Position
FITS Header
Notes
Creator (Curator)
Chandra X-ray Observatory
URL
http://chandra.harvard.edu
Name
Chandra X-ray Observatory Center
Email
cxcpub@cfa.harvard.edu
Telephone
617.496.7941
Address
60 Garden St.
City
Cambridge
State/Province
MA
Postal Code
02138
Country
USA
Rights
http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/image_use.html
Publisher
Chandra X-Ray Center
Publisher ID
chandra
Resource ID
g541_xray_comp.tif
Metadata Date
2013-09-20T10:58:34-04:00
Metadata Version
1.2
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Detailed color mapping information coming soon...

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Universescalefull
20,000 light years

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