2S 1145-619: an X-ray pulsar in an eccentric binary system?

Observations of the X-ray pulsar 2S1145-619 over a 4-yr period show that its integrated X-ray emission increases by a factor of not less than 5 for about 10 days once every six months. A possible explanation of this behavior is that the X-ray pulsar and its Be companion form an eccentric binary system in which accretion on to the pulsar is enhanced as its passes periastron. The presence of a second X-ray source within 20 arcmin of 2S1145-619 was also confirmed.