LS 5039 is a

binary system A binary system is a system of two astronomical bodies which are close enough that their gravitational attraction causes them to orbit each other around a barycenter ''(also see animated examples)''. More restrictive definitions require that th ...

in the constellation of

Scutum The ''scutum'' (; plural ''scuta'') was a type of shield used among Italic peoples in antiquity, most notably by the army of ancient Rome starting about the fourth century BC. The Romans adopted it when they switched from the military formati ...

. It has an apparent magnitude of 11.27, and it is about 8,200 light-years away. LS 5039 consists of a massive

O-type main-sequence star An O-type main-sequence star (O V) is a main-sequence (core hydrogen-burning) star of spectral type O and luminosity class V. These stars have between 15 and 90 times the mass of the Sun and surface temperatures between 30,000 and 50,000 K. The ...

, and a compact object (likely a black hole) that emits HE (high energy) and VHE ( very high energy)

gamma ray A gamma ray, also known as gamma radiation (symbol γ or \gamma), is a penetrating form of electromagnetic radiation arising from the radioactive decay of atomic nuclei. It consists of the shortest wavelength electromagnetic waves, typically ...

s. It is one of the only three known star systems of this kind, together with

LS I +61 303 LS I +61 303 is a microquasar, a binary system containing a massive star and a compact object. The compact object is a pulsar and the system is around 7,000 light-years away. Discovery LS I +61 303 is an 11th-magnitude star that was recogn ...

and PSR B1259-63. The two objects orbit each other every 3.9 days, along a moderately eccentric orbit. Additionally, it is one of the few massive X-ray binaries known to be associated with radio emission.

References

External links

Discovery of Very High Energy Gamma Rays Associated with an X-ray Binary
(Science Express) July 7, 2005

(ScienceDaily) May 19, 2006

References

External links

See also