A MYSTERIOUS OBJECT AT THE CENTER OF THE SUPERNOVA REMNANTS KES 79

We have made a tentative discovery of pulsations from an Xray source at thecenter of the Galactic supernova remnant Kes 79. A pointed ROSAT PSPCobservation indicates a coherent period with marginal significance, limited onlyby counting statistics. We propose an EPICpn observation to confirm thisdetection and to obtain a second epoch pulse measurement to determine itsspindown rate. This will allow critical pulsar parameters to be estimated. Ifthe ROSAT period is not confirmed, the request 2 X 21 ks exposures, separated bya week, are sufficient to search independently for the pulsar period and itsderivative. Identifying a pulsar at the center of Kes 79 and characterizing itsunusual properties have important consequences for neutron star evolution. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]