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RX J0806.4-4123
Hubble Sees an Unusual Neutron Star
This is a Hubble Space Telescope near-infrared-light image of the neutron star RX J0806.4-4123. Hubble detected an unusual excess of infrared radiation that might be evidence for a disk around the stellar remnant. Or it could be from a “wind” of charged particles streaming off the neutron star and slamming into gas in the interstellar medium the neutron star is plowing through.
About the Object
- R.A. PositionR.A. PositionRight ascension – analogous to longitude – is one component of an object's position.08:06:23.3471
- Dec. PositionDec. PositionDeclination – analogous to latitude – is one component of an object's position.-41:22:30.179
- ConstellationConstellationOne of 88 recognized regions of the celestial sphere in which the object appears.Puppis
About the Data
- Data DescriptionData DescriptionProposal: A description of the observations, their scientific justification, and the links to the data available in the science archive.
Science Team: The astronomers who planned the observations and analyzed the data. "PI" refers to the Principal Investigator.The HST observations include those from program 14745 (B. Posselt) - InstrumentInstrumentThe science instrument used to produce the data.WFC3/IR
- Exposure DatesExposure DatesThe date(s) that the telescope made its observations and the total exposure time.11 Sep 2016
- FiltersFiltersThe camera filters that were used in the science observations.F160W
- Object NameObject NameA name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.RX J0806.4-4123
- Object DescriptionObject DescriptionThe type of astronomical object.Neutron Star
- Release DateSeptember 17, 2018
- Science ReleaseHubble Uncovers Never Before Seen Features Around a Neutron Star
- Credit
These images are a composite of separate exposures acquired by the WFC3/IR instrument on the Hubble Space Telescope. The color results from assigning the color orange to a monochromatic (grayscale) image.
Related Images & Videos
Artist's Impression of Disk Around a Neutron Star
This illustration shows a neutron star (RX J0806.4-4123) with a disk of warm dust that produces an infrared signature as detected by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. The disk wasn’t directly photographed, but one way to explain the data is by hypothesizing a disk structure that...
Artist's Impression of Pulsar Wind from a Neutron Star
This is an illustration of a pulsar wind nebula produced by the interaction of the outflow particles from the neutron star with gaseous material in the interstellar medium that the neutron star is plowing through. Such an infrared-only pulsar wind nebula is unusual because it...
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Details
Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov
