DETECTION OF X-RAYS FROM SN 1987A WITH ROSAT

Soft X-rays (0.5-2 keV) were detected with the ROSAT PSPC from the dir ection of SN 1987A, which falls within an association in the LMC that is rich in B stars. The emission is consistent with two point sources in the LMC with total luminosity of similar to 10(34) ergs s(-1) The b righter source is identified with SN 1987A on the basis of its positio nal agreement. We interpret the emission as arising from the interacti on of supernova ejecta with the pre-existing blue giant wind. The seco nd source may be an unidentified Be/X-ray binary. Another possibility is that the second source is an X-ray echo from the supernova outburst . The X-ray echo interpretation requires that the supernova emitted si milar to 10(47) ergs in a burst of soft X-rays.