RXTE Sees Eclipses from Fast X-ray Pulsar
Astronomers using NASA's Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) have found the first fast X-ray pulsar to be eclipsed by its companion star. Further studies of this unique stellar system will shed light on some of the most compressed matter in the universe and test a key prediction of Einstein's relativity theory.
Known as Swift J1749.4-2807 — J1749 for short — the system erupted with an X-ray outburst on April 10. During the event, RXTE observed three eclipses, detected X-ray pulses that identified the neutron star as a pulsar, and even recorded pulse variations that indicated the neutron star's orbital motion. More information here.
Animation depicting the binary star system. When viewed from its orbital plane, the red giant eclipses the pulsar.
This artist's rendering of the system in profile includes additional data about the system. Print resolution.
The system in profile. Includes print resolution copies.
The pulsar begins to disappear behind the red giant.
The pulsar is fully eclipsed by the red giant.
The pulsar emerges from behind the red giant.
A closer look at the pulsar emerging from behind the red giant.
The pulsar passing in front of the red giant.
The system viewed at an angle.
The binary system viewed from above.
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Credits
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
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Animators
- Chris Smith (UMBC)
- Scott Wiessinger (UMBC)
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Producer
- Scott Wiessinger (UMBC)
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Science writer
- Francis Reddy (University of Maryland College Park)
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Graphics
- Francis Reddy (University of Maryland College Park)
Release date
This page was originally published on Tuesday, August 17, 2010.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 1:54 PM EDT.
Series
This visualization can be found in the following series:Tapes
This visualization originally appeared on the following tapes:-
Various Small Astrophysics projects
(ID: 2010139)
Friday, December 17, 2010 at 5:00AM
Produced by - Robert Crippen (NASA)