Astronomy:Swift J1745-26
File:X-Ray Nova Reveals a New Black Hole in Our Galaxy.ogv Short narrated video about Swift J1745-26 | |
| Observation data Equinox J2000.0]] (ICRS) | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Sagittarius |
| Right ascension | 17h 45m 10.849s[1] |
| Declination | -26h 24m 12.60s[1] |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
Swift J1745-26 is a stellar-mass black hole located a few degrees from the center of the Milky Way galaxy toward the constellation Sagittarius.[2] It was discovered by NASA's Swift satellite on September 16, 2012 due to the detection of an X-ray nova.[2] The pattern of X-rays from the nova indicated that the central object was a black hole. Its name arises from the coordinates of its sky position. While astronomers do not know its precise distance, they think the object resides about 20,000 to 30,000 light-years away in the galaxy's inner region.[2] Ground-based observatories have detected infrared and radio emissions from Swift J1745-26, but thick clouds of obscuring dust have prevented astronomers from catching Swift J1745-26 in visible light.[2]
Swift J1745-26 must be a member of a low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) system, which includes a normal, sun-like star.[2]
References
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