Posted on 08/31/2020 4:41:18 PM PDT by MtnClimber
Explanation: SS 433 is one of the most exotic star systems known. Its unremarkable name stems from its inclusion in a catalog of Milky Way stars which emit radiation characteristic of atomic hydrogen. Its remarkable behavior stems from a compact object, a black hole or neutron star, which has produced an accretion disk with jets. Because the disk and jets from SS 433 resemble those surrounding supermassive black holes in the centers of distant galaxies, SS 433 is considered a micro-quasar. As illustrated in the animated featured video based on observational data, a massive, hot, normal star is locked in orbit with the compact object. As the video starts, material is shown being gravitationally ripped from the normal star and falling onto an accretion disk. The central star also blasts out jets of ionized gas in opposite directions – each at about 1/4 the speed of light. The video then pans out to show a top view of the precessing jets producing an expanding spiral. From even greater distances, the dissipating jets are then visualized near the heart of supernova remnant W50. Two years ago, SS 433 was unexpectedly found by the HAWC detector array in Mexico to emit unusually high energy (TeV-range) gamma-rays. Surprises continue, as a recent analysis of archival data taken by NASA's Fermi satellite find a gamma-ray source -- separated from the central stars as shown -- that pulses in gamma-rays with a period of 162 days – the same as SS 433's jet precession period – for reasons yet unknown.
(Excerpt) Read more at apod.nasa.gov ...
Pinging the APOD list.
This one is a pretty good animation of how a binary star system of a Neutron Star and a Sun-like star could produce a mini quasar in a way that is similar to a quasar formed by a black hole in a new galaxy.
Cool one.
I was always fascinated with stars of all types.
I shot this image of Albireo a few weeks ago. This is thought to be a binary system. Then again, others say it's a visual double, not a binary system which orbit each other. They shine like magnificent jewels! The brighter yellow star makes a striking color contrast with its fainter blue companion star. Albireo is about 430 light-years away from the Earth.
This is a single image test shot in raw format. 30 second exposure/6.3 focal reducer.
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Nice photo! Any idea how long it takes them to do one revolution around each other?
Watch it, cube, we have Corbomite!
Some folks say if it’s a binary system, it would take 100,000 years, if I’m not mistaken. Then again, others say it’s just a visual double star system. Either way, they’re pretty spectacular though an eyepiece or through a camera.
Btw, don’t look too close, the tracking was bad at the time as I was still in the process of fine tuning the scope alignment.
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#5 Can you zoom in on one of the planets so we know what the aliens look like?
Thanks MtnClimber.
#12. Thanks! There went yesterday’s breakfast, right on the wall and the cat. CLEAN UP IN MY KITCHEN!
I read a great book about this star system back 30+ years ago. Very bizarre star system.
Nice to see it pop up again
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