| This
Chandra image clearly locates a pulsar exactly at the geometric center of
the supernova remnant known as G11.2-0.3. Chandra provides very strong evidence
that the pulsar was formed in the supernova of 386 AD, which was witnessed
by Chinese astronomers. Determining the true ages of astronomical objects
is notoriously difficult, and for this reason, historical records of supernovae
are of great importance. If confirmed, this will be only the second pulsar
to be clearly associated with a historic event. |
 |
Since
pulsars are known to move rapidly away from where they are formed, Chandra's
ability to pinpoint the pulsar at the center of the remnant implies the
system must be very young, since not enough time has elapsed for the pulsar
to travel far from its birthplace. The Chandra observations of G11.2-0.3
have also, for the first time, revealed the bizarre appearance of the pulsar
wind nebula at the center of the supernova remnant. Its rough cigar-like
shape is in contrast to the graceful arcs observed around the Crab and Vela
pulsars. However, together with those pulsars, G11.2-0.3 demonstrates that
such complicated structures are ubiquitous around young pulsars. |
|
