IR counterpart of the X-ray pulsar 1E 2259+586

We derive a sub-arcsecond Chandra position and tie it to our optical reference frame using other stars in the field. We find a very faint source, K_S_=21.7+/-0.2mag, with a position coincident with the Chandra position.

We argue that this is the counterpart. In the J, I, and R bands, we derive (2{sigma}) limits of 23.8, 25.6, and 26.4mag, respectively. As with 4U 0142+61, for which a counterpart has previously been found, our results are inconsistent with models in which the source is powered by accretion from a disk but may be consistent with the magnetar model.