The HST contribution to neutron star astronomy

TL;DR

The Hubble Space Telescope has been instrumental in advancing optical observations of isolated neutron stars, providing nearly all identifications since the 1990s despite their faintness in optical wavelengths.

Contribution

This paper reviews the major contributions of HST to neutron star optical astronomy and highlights its role in neutron star identification and study.

Findings

HST has identified most optical counterparts of INSs since the 1990s.

Optical studies of INSs are challenging due to their faintness.

HST's observations are crucial for neutron star astronomy.

Abstract

While isolated neutron stars (INSs) are among the brightest gamma-ray sources, they are among the faintest ones in the optical, and their study is a challenging task which require the most powerful telescopes. HST has lead neutron star optical astronomy yielding nearly all the identifications achieved since the early 1990s. Here, the major HST contributions in the optical studies of INSs and their relevance for neutron stars' astronomy are reviewed.