X-ray view of the surroundings of a hidden neutron star in the Small Magellanic Cloud

This archival image from the NASA Chandra X-Ray Observatory shows how an elusive missing object was found amid a complex tangle of gaseous filaments in one of our nearest neighbouring galaxies, the Small Magellanic Cloud.

The supernova remnant 1E 0102.2-7219 shows up dramatically, but when combined with MUSE data, the blue dot just below centre proves to be an isolated neutron star with a weak magnetic field, the first identified outside the Milky Way.

Credit:

ESO/NASA

About the Image

Id:eso1810d
Type:Observation
Release date:5 April 2018, 17:00
Related releases:eso1810
Size:900 x 906 px

About the Object

Name:1E 0102.2-7219
Type:Local Universe : Star : Evolutionary Stage : Neutron Star
Constellation:Tucana
Category:Stars

Image Formats

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104.5 KB
Screensize JPEG
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Coordinates

Position (RA):1 4 2.06
Position (Dec):-72° 1' 53.92"
Field of view:1.18 x 1.19 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 0.3° left of vertical

Colours & filters

BandWavelengthTelescope
X-ray
2.0-7.0 keV
0.398 nmChandra X-ray Observatory
ACIS
X-ray
1.2-2.0 keV
0.826 nmChandra X-ray Observatory
ACIS
X-ray
0.5-1.2 keV
1.75 nmChandra X-ray Observatory
ACIS