Thread: Carbon Atmosphere Discovered On Neutron Star

New evidence from Chandra suggests that the neutron star at the center of the Cas A supernova remnant has an ultra-thin carbon atmosphere. This uniform carbon atmosphere would explain the lack of X-ray pulsations from this object because the neutron star would be unlikely to display any changes as it rotates. The absence of pulsations has been a mystery since the neutron star was discovered in Chandra's "First Light" image over a decade ago. © X-ray: NASA/CXC/Southampton/W. Ho et al.; Illustration: © NASA/CXC/M.Weiss

NOV. 5, 2009 —Evidence for a thin veil of carbon has been found on the neutron star in the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant. This discovery, made with NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, resolves a ten-year mystery surrounding this object. (...)
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Chandra X-Ray Observatory