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 which contains the Galactic SNR G8.7-0.1 and the young radio pulsar PSR 1800-21 as well as a number of discrete ultracompact H II regions. The pulsar PSR 1800-21 is detected as a count rate of 1.5 +/- 0.5/ks and diffuse emission from the northern extent of G8.7-0.1 observed. The data support an association of G8.7-0.1 and PSR 1800-21, and the peculiar morphology can be explained if the supernova which gave birth to PSR 1800-21 occurred within, or very near, a molecular cloud. The suggested scenario removes the requirement of a large transverse velocity for the pulsar, one of the greatest dificulties with the association.