SUMMARY OF PROPOSAL 72077

DR. ROBERT PETRE
ROB@HATRACK.GSFC.NASA.GOV

NASA / GSFC
CODE 662, GSFC
GREENBELT
MD USA 20771
Tel: (301) 286-3844 Fax: (301) 286-1684
Medium: CD ROM
Subject: SUPERNOVA REMNANTS AND GALACTIC DIFFUSE EMISSION

SPECTRAL MAPPING OF THE UNIQUE SNR G156.2+5.7


ABSTRACT

G156.2+5.7 is an unusual SNR. The first SNR discovered by ROSAT, it appears as a nearly complete X-ray shell with diameter 108'. It has by far the lowest radio surface brightness of any Galactic SNR. It is thought to be an old SNR, expanding into very low density ISM. Ginga observations, however, revealed a hard spectral component (kT=8 keV). ASCA data of a small portion of the SNR indicate strong kT, NH and abundance variations, but do not show the hard component. We propose 4 pointings at positions complementary to the existing ones, with the goal of mapping spectral variations and locating and characterizing the hard component. This component, if thermal, could represent emission from the forward shock; if nonthermal, it could be the signature of cosmic ray acceleration.

CO-INVESTIGATORS
CO-I NAME INSTITUTE COUNTRY
UNA HWANGGSFC/UMDUSA

TARGETS

TARGET NAMEPRIRADECTIMETCOFFGISSIS CNTOBS
1)G156.2+5.7 - SE
B
75.4167 51.4925
40 ks
N
Y
P
0.20000
1
2)G156.2+5.7 - W
B
74.2292 52.1475
40 ks
N
Y
P
0.20000
1
3)G156.2+5.7 - E
C
75.3917 52.1725
40 ks
N
Y
P
0.20000
1
4)G156.2+5.7 - SW
C
74.2208 51.4625
40 ks
N
Y
P
0.20000
1