Chandra Observations of WR 147 Reveal a Double X-ray Source

We report the first results from deep X-ray observations of the Wolf-Rayet (WR) binary system WR 147 with the Chandra High Energy Transmission Gratings. Analysis of the zeroth-order data reveals that WR 147 is a double X-ray source. The northern counterpart is likely associated with the colliding wind region, while the southern component is certainly identified with the WN star in this massive binary. The latter is the source of high-energy X-rays (including the Fe Kα complex at 6.67 keV) whose production mechanism is yet unclear. For the first time, X-rays are observed directly from a WR star in a binary system.