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   62070
   PSR B0656+14 is the brightest pulsar whose X-rays are dominated by
   surface thermal emission, without contamination from magnetospheric
   emission or a synchrotron nebula. As such, it affords us the best
   opportunity to examine the properties of a magnetized neutron star
   atmosphere through its effects on the emergent X-ray spectrum and pulse
   profile. A long observation of PSR B0656+14 will collect enough photons
   to enable us to study in detail the modifications from a Planck
   spectrum that are expected from such atmospheres, and to use them to
   determine the actual surface temperature and chemical composition.
   Evidence for the presence or absence of atomic absorption features
   shifted to X-ray energies by the strong surface magnetic field will be
   collected for the first time.
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