A pulsar beats in the heart of SN 1987A

3D ModelNoAI

Analysis of X-ray data of supernova 1987A collected with NASA observatories NuSTAR and Chandra, mixed with information from a 3D MHD model of this object (Orlando et al. 2020, A&A 636, id.A22), provided a clear indication that a pulsar wind nebula is emitting synchrotron emission at the center of SN 1987A (NASA press release available). Astronomers searched for this elusive object since the supernova explosion occurred on February 23, 1987. The semitransparent panel shows the Chandra observation; 3D spatial distribution of the absorbing cold ejecta (white structure in the center of the remnant) reconstructed from the model and the X-ray emission (3D red/yellow ring structure) synthesized by the model are also shown. The center of the explosion and the position of the pulsar as predicted by the model are indicated by the 2 dots close to the center.

Reference: Greco et al. 2021, ApJL 908, L45