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More Images of RX J1856.5-3754 and 3C58
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RX J1856 in Optical Light
This optical image of RX J1856.5-3754 portrays a
crowded region of star formation. In comparison, the
Chandra X-ray image shows that RX J1856 outshines all
of the other sources in the field, indicating it is
both extremely hot and very small.
(Credit: European Southern
Observatory Very Large Telescope)
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Size Comparison of RX J1856 to
Neutron and Quark Stars
This artist's rendition shows the diameter of RX
J1856.5-3754, determined by data from NASA's Chandra
X-ray Observatory, is too small to be a neutron star.
The data are consistent with predicted size for a
strange quark star, an object never before seen in
nature.
(Illustration: CXC/M.
Weiss)
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Neutron Star/Quark Star
Interior
In a neutron star (left), the quarks that comprise the
neutrons are confined inside the neutrons. In a quark
star(right), the quarks are free, so they take up less
space and the diameter of the star is smaller.
(Credit: Illustration: CXC/M.
Weiss)
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Illustration of relative sizes of
Grand Canyon, neutron star and quark star
The Grand Canyon is 18 miles rim to rim. A neutron
star is about 12 miles in diameter, and a quark star is
about 7 miles in diameter.
(Illustration: CXC/D.
Berry)
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Chandra X-ray Image of 3C58
Chandra observations of 3C58, the remnants of a
supernova noted on Earth in AD 1181, reveal that the
neutron star in the core has a temperature much lower
than expected. This suggests that a new state of
nuclear matter might exist inside the star.
(Credit: NASA/CXC/CfA/P.Slane et
al.)
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Chandra X-ray Image with Scale Bar
for 3C58
Scale bar = 1.4 arcmin
Credit: NASA/SAO/CXC/P.Slane et
al.
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Return to RX J1856.5-3754
and 3C58 (10 Apr 02)
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