Centaurus X-3

Centaurus X-3 (4U 1118-60) is an X-ray pulsar with a period of 4.84 seconds. It was the first X-ray pulsar to be discovered, and the third X-ray source to be discovered in the constellation Centaurus. The system consists of a neutron star orbiting a massive, O-type supergiant star dubbed Krzeminski's star /(k)ʃɛˈmɪnskiz/ after its discoverer, Wojciech Krzemiński. Matter is being accreted from the star onto the neutron star, resulting in X-ray emission.

Centaurus X-3

A visual band light curve for V779 Centauri, adapted from Tjemkes et al. (1986)
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Centaurus
Right ascension 11h 21m 15.09s
Declination −60° 37 22.6
Apparent magnitude (V) 13.25 (- 13.39) - 13.46
Characteristics
Spectral type O6-7 II-III
Variable type Ellipsoidal & eclipsing
Astrometry
Proper motion (μ) RA: −3.121 mas/yr
Dec.: +2.331 mas/yr
Parallax (π)0.1387 ± 0.0112 mas
Distance24,000 ± 2,000 ly
(7,200 ± 600 pc)
Details
Krzeminski's star
Mass20.5 ± 0.7 M
Radius12 R
Luminosity316,000 L
Temperature39,000 K
X-ray component
Mass1.21 ± 0.21 M
Other designations
V779 Cen, 1RXS J112115.4-603725, 4U 1118-60, AAVSO 1116-60
Database references
SIMBADdata
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