Press new out of the Milky Way

1999/11/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Astronomia

Two months ago the Chandra telescope, which receives X-rays, was put into orbit around the Earth. Its objective is the observation of stars outside the Milky Way. Through the Chandra and Hubble telescopes a new pulsar has been discovered in the nebula called Karramarro.

This nebula was first seen by Chinese astronomers in 1054, due to the explosion of a star then produced. It was visible for several weeks from Earth. In 1968 it was discovered by modern astronomers in the constellation of Taurus. The nebula is located 6,000 light years from the Earth and inside has been discovered a pulsar, a neutron star that rotates at high speed. It emits radiation 30 times per second. The Chandra telescope has seen an X-ray ring showing how energy is transported from the star to the nebula.

According to astronomer Jeff Hester of Arizona State University, this is the first time something similar has been seen. This observation can provide much information about the energy transport between the pulsar and the nebula.