SGR 0418+5729 in 60 Seconds
Narrator (Joseph DePasquale, CXC): A magnetar
is a type of neutron star that occasionally
generates bursts of X-rays.
They usually have a very strong magnetic field
on their surface, ten to a thousand times
stronger than for an average neutron star.
Now, astronomers have spotted a magnetar,
called SGR 0418, with a much lower magnetic
field on its surface.
Data from Chandra and several other X-ray
observatories was used to make this measurement.
The magnetar is seen as the pink source in
the middle of this image combining Chandra
data with optical and infrared data.
SGR 0418 is located in our galaxy about 6,500
light years from Earth.
In this artist�s impression we see a close-up
view of SGR 0418, with a weak magnetic field
on the surface and a much stronger magnetic
field in the interior.
These results suggest that magnetars might
be much more common than previously thought.
They also tell us about the massive stars
and supernova explosions that create magnetars.
