Universe ID: 10798

Stellar Odd Couple Makes Striking Flares

Released on June 29, 2011

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.

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

For More Information

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

Credits

Walt Feimer (HTSI): Lead Animator
Scott Wiessinger (USRA): Animator
Francis Reddy (University of Maryland College Park): Illustrator
Scott Wiessinger (USRA): Video Editor
Scott Wiessinger (USRA): Narrator
Scott Wiessinger (USRA): Producer
Aous Abdo (George Mason University): Scientist
Francis Reddy (University of Maryland College Park): Lead Science Writer

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center. However, each image should be credited as indicated above.

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Mission:
Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope

Data Used:

Fermi

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This item is part of these series:
Narrated Movies
Astrophysics Stills
Astrophysics Features

Goddard TV Tape:
G2011-075 -- Odd Couple Binary

Keywords:
SVS >> HDTV
SVS >> Neutron Star
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Spectral/Engineering >> Gamma Ray
SVS >> Astrophysics
SVS >> Pulsar
SVS >> Edited Feature
SVS >> Fermi
SVS >> Binary Star
DLESE >> Narrated
SVS >> Star
NASA Science >> Universe

GCMD keywords can be found on the Internet with the following citation: Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Morahan, A. Aleman, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, M. Meaux, S. Grebas, C.Solomon, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, R. Bilodeau, 2013. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0