CXOU J164710.2−455216

CXOU J164710.2−455216 is an anomalous X-ray pulsar and magnetar in the massive galactic open cluster Westerlund 1. It is the brightest X-ray source in the cluster, and was discovered in 2005 in observations made by the Chandra X-ray Observatory.[1][2] The Westerlund 1 cluster is believed to have formed in a single burst of star formation,[3] implying that the progenitor star must have had a mass in excess of 40 solar masses. The fact that a neutron star was formed instead of a black hole implies that more than 95% of the star's original mass must have been lost before or during the supernova that produced the magnetar.[4][5]

CXOU J164710.2−455216

Artist's impression of CXOU J164710.2-455216
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS)
Constellation Ara
Right ascension 16h 47m 10.20s
Declination −45° 52 16.8
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage Neutron star
Apparent magnitude () >18.5[1]
Astrometry
Distanceapprox. 16,000 ly
(approx. 5,000 pc)
Details
Rotation10.6105(1)s
Other designations
CXO J164710.20−455217, CXOU J164710.2−455217
Database references
SIMBADdata

On 21 September 2006 the Swift satellite detected a 20ms soft gamma-ray burst in Westerlund 1. Fortuitously, XMM-Newton observations had been made four days earlier, and repeat observations 1.5 days after the burst revealed the magnetar to be the source of the burst, with the X-ray luminosity increasing by a factor of 100 during the outburst.[6]

References

  • Gavriil, F. P.; Woods, P. M.; Kaspi, V. M. (2006). "Chandra Target of Opportunity Observations of CXO J164710.2−455216". The Astronomer's Telegram. 901: 1. Bibcode:2006ATel..901....1G.
  • cxo-j164710.2-455216
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