Supernova leaves behind mysterious object


XMM-Newton's view of supernova remnant RCW 103
 
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.

Puzzling pulsation from the heart of RCW103
 
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.



Release date: 7 July 2006