  We report the results of an X-ray spectral imaging observation of the
Antennae with the ROSAT PSPC. 55% of the soft X-ray flux from the system is
resolved into discrete sources, including components identified with the
galactic nuclei and large HII regions, whilst the remainder appears to be
predominantly genuinely diffuse emission from gas at a temperature ~4x10^6 K.
The morphology of the emission is unusual, combining a halo which envelopes the
galactic discs, with what appears to be a distorted, but well-collimated
bipolar outflow. We derive physical parameters for the hot gas in both diffuse
components, which are of some interest, given that the Antennae probably
represents an elliptical galaxy in the making.

Astrophysics