November 27, 2016

Cygnus X-3 and little friend (Image X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO/M.McCollough et al, Radio: ASIAA/SAO/SMA)

An article published in “The Astrophysical Journal Letters” describes a research on Cygnus X-3, a binary system consisting of a massive star slowly consumed by its companion, a black hole or a neutron star that is gas continuously taking gas away from it. A team of researchers used NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Smithsonian’s Submillimeter Array (SMA) to detect the emissions generated from Cygnus X-3, reflected by a star-forming cloud.