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Article: Cygnus X-3: missing link to binary pulsars? (star)
- Article from:
- Science News
- Article date:
- February 29, 1992
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1992 Science Service, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Astronomers call Cygnus X-3 one of the most bizarre objects in the heavens. From this pair of stars come not only some of the most luminous X-rays in our galaxy, but also jets of radio waves and brilliant infrared light. These emissions led researchers years ago to identify one member of the duo as a burned-out, superdense star called a neutron star. That star uses gravity to steal mass from its partner, which lies hidden behind layers of dust. Though they had never seen the companion, scientists reasoned that it must have a low mass since it whips around the neutron star every 4.8 hours.
But new infrared observations have pierced the dusty shroud and suggest ...