THE PSR 1800-21 G8.7-0.1 ASSOCIATION - A VIEW FROM ROSAT/

We present the first imaging X-ray observation of the W30 complex whic h contains the Galactic SNR G8.7-0.1 and the young radio pulsar PSR 18 00-21 as well as a number of discrete ultracompact H II regions. The p ulsar PSR 1800-21 is detected as a count rate of 1.5+/-0.5 ks(-1) and diffuse emission from the northern extent of G8.7-0.1 is observed. The data support an association of G8.7-0.1 and PSR 1800-21, and the pecu liar morphology can be explained if the supernova which gave birth to PSR 1800-21 occurred within, or very near, a molecular cloud. The sugg ested scenario removes the requirement of a large transverse velocity for the pulsar, one of the greatest difficulties with the association.