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The hibernating stellar magnet

The newly discovered object, known as SWIFT J195509+261406, showed intense flaring activity over a three day period. One of such flare is demonstrated here (and in the accompanying video). The images, obtained with the 0.8-m IAC80 telescope at Teide Observatory (Spain), show the source over a time span of about 30 minutes, during which the source brightens quickly then fades away. Forty of such flares have been recorded by the team of astronomers.

Credit:

A.J. Castro-Tirado/IAC80/ESO

About the Image

Id:eso0831b
Type:Collage
Release date:23 September 2008
Related releases:eso0831
Size:1567 x 992 px

About the Object

Name:SWIFT J195509.6+261406
Type:Milky Way : Star : Type : Exotic : X-Ray Binary
Distance:16000 light years
Category:Stars

Image Formats

Fullsize Original
1014.4 KB
Large JPEG
277.8 KB
Screensize JPEG
128.3 KB