Stellar Odd Couple Makes Striking Flares

  • Released Wednesday, June 29th, 2011
  • Updated Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023 at 1:53PM
  • ID: 10798

Every 3.4 years, pulsar B1259-63 dives twice through the gas disk surrounding the massive blue star it orbits. With each pass, it produces gamma rays. During the most recent event, NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope observed that the pulsar's gamma-ray flare was much more intense the second time it plunged through the disk. Astronomers don't yet know why.

For the B1259 binary animation, go here.

Short narrated video about B1259.

Watch this video on the NASAexplorer YouTube channel.

For complete transcript, click here.

This diagram, which illustrates the view from Earth, shows the binary's anatomy as well as key events in the pulsar's recent close approach. Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/Francis Reddy

This diagram, which illustrates the view from Earth, shows the binary's anatomy as well as key events in the pulsar's recent close approach. Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/Francis Reddy

This diagram, which illustrates the view from Earth, shows the binary's anatomy as well as key events in the pulsar's recent close approach. No Labels. Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/Francis Reddy

This diagram, which illustrates the view from Earth, shows the binary's anatomy as well as key events in the pulsar's recent close approach. No Labels. Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/Francis Reddy

For More Information

See http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/GLAST/news/odd-couple.html

Credits

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NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center. However, each image should be credited as indicated above.

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Tapes

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  • Odd Couple Binary (ID: 2011075)
    Wednesday, June 29, 2011 at 4:00AM
    Produced by - Robert Crippen

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