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Cygnus X-1—a Spectroscopic Binary with a Heavy Companion ?

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Abstract

WE have reported1 that the spectrum, colours and interstellar features in the star HD 226868, which is coincident with the X-ray star Cygnus X-1 and a radio star2,3, were those of a normal BOIb supergiant. We made measurements of the radial velocity of the star from August 1971 to October 1971 and find it to be a velocity variable, whose changes of velocity correlate with changes in the X-ray flux.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Royal Greenwich Observatory, Herstmonceux Castle, Hailsham, Sussex

    B. LOUISE WEBSTER & PAUL MURDIN

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  1. B. LOUISE WEBSTER
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  2. PAUL MURDIN
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WEBSTER, B., MURDIN, P. Cygnus X-1—a Spectroscopic Binary with a Heavy Companion ?. Nature 235, 37–38 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1038/235037a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/235037a0

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