James Webb Space Telescope Feed Post

Webb Finds Evidence for Neutron Star at Heart of Young Supernova Remnant (NIRCam, MIRI and NIRSpec Images)

Scientists had long expected supernova explosion SN 1987A to form a neutron star or black hole, but direct evidence was elusive — until now. For the first time, Webb has found ionized argon at the site, a strong indicator of a newborn neutron star’s presence. Back in 1987, observatories detected a 10-second burst of tiny particles called neutrinos, hours before SN 1987A was observed in visible light. Based on this pattern, astronomers’ models demonstrated that a neutron star or black hole should have formed in the explosion. Research in the past few years showed indirect evidence of a neutron star at the core of SN 1987A’s remnant, and observations of supernova remnants much older than SN 1987A confirmed many have central neutron stars. Webb is providing the latest piece in this puzzle. Scientists captured simultaneous images and spectra of SN 1987A with Webb in July 2022 (making it one of the very first objects seen by Webb!), using an instrument mode where a spectrum is taken for every image pixel. Analysis of Webb’s spectra shows a signature of ionized argon from near the center of the remnant that could only be created by a source of high-energy radiation. According to the research team, only a few scenarios are likely, and all of them involve a baby neutron star. More observations of this supernova remnant will be forthcoming from both Webb and other ground-based observatories. Scientists hope for even greater clarity of what is happening at SN 1987A’s heart. Learn more: go.nasa.gov/4bJKzFl Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Claes Fransson (Stockholm University), Mikako Matsuura (Cardiff University), M. Barlow (UCL), Patrick Kavanagh (Maynooth University), Josefin Larsson (KTH) Image description: A three-panel image of a supernova remnant. The left panel is labeled “NIRCam” while the two right panels are labeled “MIRI M R S Argon two” (at top) and “NIRSpec I F U Argon six” (at bottom). At left, a mottled light pinkish-orange oval whose inner edge resembles a string of pearls. Within the oval is a dense blue-green cloud, shaped like a keyhole. Three stars with six-point diffraction patterns surround the oval. Above and below these structures, are very faint orange rings, which form a figure eight pattern. The center of the supernova remnant is surrounded by a white box with lines leading to the upper and lower right of the image, where two stacked panels show a bright orange ring with an orange dot in the middle. The upper panel is fuzzier and more blobby, while the bottom panel has more clearly defined edges around the ring and central dot. Image & Description by NASA