Discovery of powerful transient X-ray source A0620-00 with Ariel V Sky Survey Experiment
Abstract
ON August 3 a faint new X-ray source was discovered (at 15 Ariel counts s-1) near the boundary of the Monoceros and Orion constellations and 6° from the galactic plane, during routine monitoring of the Milky Way with the Ariel V Sky Survey Experiment (SSE). During the following week, the source-designated A0620-00-increased rapidly in intensity to become the brightest in the sky (at 2-18 keV). The X-ray light curve from continued observation with the SSE to August 16 is shown in Fig. 1. The ordinate is in Ariel counts s-1 and for comparison, the corresponding count rates for the Crab Nebula and Sco X-1 are 400 s-1 and 3,200 s-1, respectively. The precursor peak on August 6 is real and is qualitatively similar to the feature seen1 in the rise to maximum intensity of the earlier Ariel transient A1524-62. Subsequent observations of A0620-00 with the Ariel V experiments pointing along the spin axis of the spacecraft have shown the intensity to have remained very high at least until August 27.
- Publication:
-
Nature
- Pub Date:
- October 1975
- DOI:
- 10.1038/257656a0
- Bibcode:
- 1975Natur.257..656E
- Keywords:
-
- Light Curve;
- Novae;
- Sky Surveys (Astronomy);
- Spaceborne Astronomy;
- Transient Response;
- X Ray Sources;
- Ariel Satellites;
- Astronomical Photography;
- Error Analysis;
- Periodic Variations;
- Satellite Observation;
- Astrophysics