The Galactic Centre

While the Uhuru satellite detected an extended or multiple X-ray source located in the direction of the galactic centre, and while transient and burst sources have been found there by Ariel 5 and SAS-3, there has not so far been any detailed description of this important source. By using results from a coded mask telescope flown in 1976 on a Skylark rocket (the first successful application of such a device in astronomy) and from an extended period of observations with Ariel 5, a number of burst and irregular variable X-ray sources have now been discovered. In particular, the region within a few degrees of the galactic centre is evidently one of continual but irregular X-ray activity.