ROSAT observations of VRO 42.05.01

We present the first X-ray images and spectra of the unusual supernova remnant VRO 42.05.01, based on a 22,680 s observation of the remnant with the ROSAT PSPC. The overall shape of the X-ray remnant is similar to that of the radio remnant, but the X-ray morphology differs from the radio morphology in that the X-ray emission is not edge-brightened. The X-ray data are consistent with an isothermal remnant with variations in absorbing column density across the remnant that probably account for some of the observed structure. The remnant has an X-ray temperature of ∼8.5 × 10⁶ K and an absorbing column of a few times 10²¹ cm^-2. This absorbing column is surprisingly small for the nominal distance of 5 kpc, and requires a low mean density along this line of sight.