A pulsar beats in the heart of SN 1987A

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Analysis of X-ray data from supernova 1987A, gathered with NASA's NuSTAR and Chandra observatories, paired with information from a 3D MHD model of this object (Orlando et al. 2020, A&A 636, id.A22), reveals that a pulsar wind nebula is emitting synchrotron radiation at the center of SN 1987A, according to NASA's press release. Astronomers have been searching for this elusive object since the supernova explosion occurred on February 23, 1987. The semitransparent panel displays the Chandra observation; a 3D spatial distribution of absorbing cold ejecta (white structure in the center of the remnant) reconstructed from the model and X-ray emission (3D red/yellow ring structure) synthesized by the model are also shown. The center of the explosion and pulsar position, as predicted by the model, are indicated by two dots near the center. Reference: Greco et al. 2021, ApJL 908, L45