Circinus X-1

Circinus X-1 (abbreviated Cir X-1 ) is an X-ray binary star. The system discovered in 1971 is 31,000 light years away and is located in the constellation circle.

The binary star system consists of a normal star, together with about three to five times the solar mass and a neutron star. This pulls the neutron star, which is slightly more massive than our sun, of matter of his partner. The resulting accretion disk around the neutron star causes the X-rays. Both revolve probably in 16.6 days on a highly elliptical orbit.

Cir at X 1, a jet was discovered that moves with 99.8 % of the speed of light. Previously it was assumed that only black holes could produce a relativistic jet.

Swell

• Ray binary
• Circle ( constellation )