X-ray Moon and X-ray Star
Explanation:
An X-ray star winks out behind the Moon in these before and after
views of a
lunar occultation of the
galactic X-ray source designated GX5-1.
The false color images were made using data from the
ROSAT
orbiting observatory and show high energy X-rays in yellow (mostly from
GX5-1), and lower energy X-rays in red (the Moon reflecting
X-rays from the Sun). GX5-1 is a
binary system consisting of a
neutron star and a companion star in
mutual orbit about the system's center of mass.
The gas in the companion star's outer envelope falls toward the neutron star
and
accumulates in a disk around it.
This disk material swirls deeper in to
the
neutron star's gravitational well, and is finally dumped onto
its surface - in the process creating tremendous
temperatures and generating the high energy X-rays.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
