A Thorough Investigation of Distance and Age of the Pulsar Wind Nebula 3C58

TL;DR

This study refines the distance estimate of the pulsar wind nebula 3C58 using new HI data and parallax measurements, suggesting it is older than previously thought but compatible with the 1181 supernova event.

Contribution

It provides a more accurate distance measurement for 3C58, challenging prior assumptions and re-evaluating its age and historical connection.

Findings

New distance estimate of 2 kpc for 3C58

Revised age assessment compatible with A.D. 1181 supernova

Improved understanding of the nebula's properties

Abstract

A growing number of researchers present evidence that the pulsar wind nebula 3C58 is much older than predicted by its proposed connection to the historical supernova of A.D. 1181. There is also a great diversity of arguments. The strongest of these arguments rely heavily on the assumed distance of 3.2 kpc determined with HI absorption measurements. This publication aims at determining a more accurate distance for 3C58 and re-evaluating the arguments for a larger age. I have re-visited the distance determination of 3C58 based on new HI data from the Canadian Galactic Plane Survey and our recent improvements in the knowledge of the rotation curve of the outer Milky Way Galaxy. I have also used newly determined distances to objects in the neighbourhood, which are based on direct measurements by trigonometric parallax. I have derived a new more reliable distance estimate of 2 kpc for 3C58. This makes the connection between the pulsar wind nebula and the historical event from A.D. 1181 once again much more viable.