ROSAT Pointed Observations of the VELA Supernova Remnant
Abstract
We present long duration ROSAT PSPC observations of 3 fields in the Vela supernova remnant, one centered on a bright cloud-like structure near the middle of the remnant, one covering a prominent shock on the eastern edge, and one centered on the bright enhancement in the northwest. By overlaying the X-ray maps with digitized ESO plates of the region we show that the X-ray emission is remarkably coincident with optical filaments in all 3 pointings. In each case, the optical filaments outline the bright X-ray regions, these structures are of order 10 parsecs in size indicating that the most dramatic features in the X-ray morphology are produced by blast wave interactions with large clouds in the ambient medium. A full spectral analysis is not yet complete, however the regions behind the blast wave interaction region appear to have spectra that become progressively harder. Possible explanations for the harder spectra will be discussed.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 1992
- Bibcode:
- 1992AAS...181.4704C