Abstract
The radio source 3C58 (G130.7 + 3.1) marks the probable position of the supernova of AD1181 (ref. 1). In its morphology, apparent size and radio spectrum, it is remarkably similar to the Crab Nebula (SN1054), being a ‘filled-centre’ supernova remnant (SNR), rather than the more usual shell-type. When comparing the physical properties of 3C58 with the Crab, or other ‘filled-centre’ remnants, a knowledge of its distance is required, and this has been a long-standing problem. Often, a value, or lower limit, of ∼8 kpc has been assumed2–4, but this implies that 3C58, although slightly younger than the Crab, is some five times larger. Also, it places 3C58 over 400 pc from the galactic plane, which is very surprising if it, like the Crab, is the remnant of a Type II supernova. The observations presented here show that 3C58 is in fact much closer, at a distance of only 2.6 kpc.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Stephenson, F. R. Q. Jl R. astr. Soc. 12, 10–38 (1971).
Williams, D. R. W. Astr. Astrophys. 28, 309–311 (1973).
Hughes, M. P., Thompson, A. R. & Colvin, R. S. Astrophys. J. Suppl. 23, 323–370 (1971).
Goss, W. M., Schwarz, U. J. & Wesselius, P. R. Astr. Astrophys. 28, 305–307 (1973).
Williams, D. R. W. Astr. Astrophys. Suppl. 8, 505–516 (1973).
Weaver, H. & Williams, D. R. W. Astr. Astrophys. Suppl. 8, 1–504 (1973).
Verschuur, G. L. in Galactic and Extra-galactic Ratio Astronomy (eds Verschuur, G. L. & Kellermann, K. I.) 27–47 (Springer, Berlin, 1974).
Schmidt, M. Stars and Stellar Systems Vol. 5 (eds Blaaw, A. & Schmidt, M.) 513–530 (University of Chicago Press, 1965).
Roberts, W. W. Astrophys. J. 173, 259–285 (1972).
Blitz, L. Astrophys. J. Lett 231, L115–L119 (1979).
Ilovaisky, S. A. & Lequeux, J. Astr. Astrophys. 18, 169–185 (1972).
Clark, D. H. & Caswell, J. L. Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 174, 267–305 (1976).
Gobel, W., Hirth, W. & Furst, E. Astr. Astrophys. 93, 43–47 (1981).
Shklovsky, I. S. Supernovae (Wiley, New York, 1969).
Gull, S. F. Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 161, 47–69 (1973).
Milne, D. K. Aust. J. Phys. 32, 83–92 (1979).
Albinson, J. S. & Gull, S. F. in Regions of Recent Star Formation (eds Roger, R. S. & Dewdney, P. E.) 193–199 (Reidel, Dordrecht, 1982).
Chevalier, R. A., Kirshner, R. P. & Raymond, J. C. Astrophys. J. 235, 186–191 (1980).
Weiler, K. W. & Shaver, P. A. Astr. Astrophys. 70, 389–397 (1978).
Lockhart, I. A., Goss, W. M. Caswell, J. L. & McAdam, W. B. Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 179, 147–152 (1977).
Becker, R. H., Helfand, D. J. & Szymkowiak, A. E. Astrophys. J. 255, 557–567 (1982).
Spitzer, L. Physical Processes in the Interstellar Medium (Wiley, New York, 1978).
Jenkins, E. B. & Savage, B. D. Astrophys. J. 187, 243–255 (1974).
Tammann, G. A. in Supernovae (ed. Schramm, D. N.) 95–116 (Reidel, Dordrecht, 1977).
van den Bergh, S. Astrophys. J. Lett. 220, L9–L10 (1978).
Weiler, K. W. & Panagia, N. Astr. Astrophys. 90, 269–282 (1980).
Shklovskii, I. S. Soviet Astr. Lett. 7, 263–264 (1981).
Woltjer, L. A. Rev. Astr. Astrophys. 10, 129–158 (1972).
Wilson, A. S. & Weiler, K. W. Astr. Astrophys. 49, 357–374 (1976).
Chevalier, R. A. in Supernovae (ed. Schramm, D. N.) 53–62 (Reidel, Dordrecht, 1977).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Green, D., Gull, S. Distance to Crab-like supernova remnant 3C58. Nature 299, 606–608 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1038/299606a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/299606a0
This article is cited by
-
Structure of the suprrnova remnant 3C 58 and its neighborhood
Astrophysics (1990)
-
Pulsars: Space kinematic characteristics and their connection with supernova remnants
Astrophysics and Space Science (1985)
-
Two new young galactic supernova remnants
Nature (1984)
-
Observation of stellar remnants from recent Supernovae
Nature (1984)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
