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Supernova leaves behind mysterious object

6 July 2006

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XMM-Newton's view of supernova remnant RCW 103

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This image, obtained thanks to ESA's XMM-Newton X-ray telescope on 23 August 2005, shows the aftermath of a 2000-year-old star explosion. In the heart of the central blue dot in this image, smaller than a pinpoint, likely lies a neutron star only about 20 kilometers across. The nature of this object is like nothing detected before.

Scientists from the Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF) in Milan have detected unusual X-ray pulsations. Understanding the central source's true nature will lead to new insights about supernovae, neutron stars and their evolution.

Credits: ESA/XMM-Newton/A.De Luca (INAF-IASF )

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Puzzling pulsation from the heart of RCW103

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In August 2005, ESA's XMM-Newton observed the centre (blue dot in the image) of the supernova remnant RCW103 - the aftermath of a 2000-year-old star explosion.

The light curve on the right of the image unambiguously shows X-ray pulsation with a period of 6.67 hours - an astonishingly long period for the young neutron star expected to lie there.

The puzzling nature of this object (1E161348-5055), reminiscent of a multimillion-year-old source, is like nothing detected before.

Credits: ESA/XMM-Newton/A.De Luca (INAF-IASF )

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