BeppoSAX unveils the nuclear component in NGC 6240

The direct nuclear X-ray emission of the ultraluminous IRAS galaxy NGC 6240 has been observed for the first time by BeppoSAX. It is seen through an absorber with N_H=2*10^{24} cm^{-2}. The 2-10 keV X-ray luminosity >10^{44} erg s^{-1} definitely proves that a powerful AGN is hosted in this galaxy, despite the LINER optical appearance. Assuming the typical L_X/L_bol ratio for quasars, our result implies that it is the AGN and not the starburst that dominates the energy output of NGC 6240.