Using the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have discovered evidence of a neutron star hiding in the wreckage of Supernova 1987A, a famous stellar explosion observed in 1987.
Supernova 1987A was the remnant of a massive star that exploded in the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy. But the nature of the compact object left at its center was unknown.
Neutron stars are extremely dense objects left after supernovae, but this one had avoided detection due to dust obscuring its infrared emissions..
JWST spotted ionized emissions of argon and sulfur that could only be produced by radiation from a neutron star. This provides strong evidence one lurks at the center of Supernova 1987A.
However, it’s still uncertain if it is a “bare” neutron star or one surrounded by a pulsar wind nebula, which JWST may be able to distinguish in future observations.
The discovery ends a 37-year search and shows how JWST’s powerful infrared observations can reveal neutron stars and other compact remnants hidden in supernova debris.
Source: livescience
