A new class Of X-ray star?

The team pointed both the Hubble Space Telescope and the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer at the hot star gamma Cassiopeiae, simultaneously for one full day in March, 1996 in order to understand the origin of the bright, variable X-rays coming from this star. To their surprise they discovered the X-rays are probably produced by extraordinarily hot surface flares, which are completely unexpected and unpredicted for a star of this type.

Credit:

M. Smith (ST ScI) and NASA/ESA

About the Image

NASA press release
Id:opo9807a
Type:Chart
Release date:9 January 1998, 06:00
Size:913 x 675 px

About the Object

Name:Gamma Cassiopeia, IRAS 00536+6026
Type:Milky Way : Star : Type : Variable
Distance:600 light years
Category:Illustrations
Stars

Image Formats

r.titleLarge JPEG
118.2 KB
r.titleScreensize JPEG
153.2 KB

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