Discovery and characterization of the Be X-ray binary MAXI J0655-013 using MAXI and NuSTAR

We present MAXI and NuSTAR observations of the newly discovered Be X-ray binary (BeXB) MAXI J0655-013. This source was first detected by MAXI in June 2022 when it went into outburst near the Sun. Rapid follow-up with NuSTAR unveiled pulsations with a long period. By performing a detailed timing and spectral analysis of the source, we demonstrate evolution of the spectral characteristics as well as pulsations throughout the outburst. We discuss the rich timing properties of the source and how they compare to other BeXBs and accreting neutron stars more generally. Additionally, we demonstrate the unique capability of NuSTAR to observe X-ray sources near the Sun as well as the ways that detailed timing analysis using observatories like NuSTAR may sometimes prove necessary in order to understand the long-term light curves obtained by monitoring observatories like MAXI.