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XMM-Newton reveals a tumbling neutron star

19 April 2006

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XMM-Newton image of pulsar 'RX J0720.4-3125'

This XMM-Newton X-ray image shows the portion of the sky around the pulsar named 'RX J0720.4-3125', which is the central bright object appearing in red.

This spinning star has been observed by XMM-Newton over a few years, and has shown an unexpected variation in the observed thermal emission. According to astronomers, this effect is not due to a real variation in temperature, but instead to a changing viewing geometry. The pulsar is most probably a slowly tumbling star, which exposes different areas of the surface over time.

Credits: ESA, F.Haberl/MPE

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HI-RES GIF (Size: 2392 kb)

This animation shows a rotating and precessing neutron star with two hot polar caps.

Credits: Univ. of Padova (Italy)

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