RX J0822-4300 in Puppis A

CXC Logo
Chandra X-ray
Observatory Center
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
60 Garden St. Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
http://chandra.harvard.edu
graphic
RX J0822-4300 in Puppis A: A neutron star created when a massive star exploded about 3,700 years ago.
(Credit: Chandra: NASA/CXC/Middlebury College/F.Winkler et al; ROSAT: NASA/GSFC/S.Snowden et al.; Optical: NOAO/AURA/NSF/Middlebury College/F.Winkler et al.)

Caption: A wide-field composite view of the supernova remnant Puppis A (X-rays from ROSAT in purple, optical data in pink) puts the motion of the neutron star RX J0822-4300 into context. The explosion that created the supernova may have been lop-sided, kicking the neutron star in one direction and much of the debris in the other. The inset shows Chandra observations spanning 5 years that clearly reveal motion over that time. Astronomers calculate that RX J0822-4300 is moving at about 3 million miles per hour, making it one of the fastest moving stars ever observed.

Scale: Inset is 14.5 arcsec across.

Chandra X-ray Observatory HRC Image

CXC operated for NASA by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
graphic