PSR B1259−63/LS 2883
< PSR B1259−63
| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Centaurus |
| Right ascension | 13h 02m 47.655s |
| Declination | −63° 50′ 08.67″ |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 10.34 |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | O9.5Ve + pulsar |
| Astrometry | |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: −6.0 mas/yr Dec.: −5.7 mas/yr |
| Distance | 7,500 ly |
| Orbit | |
| Companion | SS 2883 |
| Period (P) | 1237 days |
| Eccentricity (e) | 0.87 |
| Inclination (i) | 36° |
| Other designations | |
| AAVSO 1256−63, ALS 2883, AX J1302−638, CPD-63° 2495, GSC 08997-01597, Hbg 757, Hen 3-852, INTREF 538, LS 2883, MSX6C G304.1845-00.9916, PSR B1259−63 PSR J1302−6350, THA 17-8, TYC 8997-1597-1, UCAC2 3710789, WRAY 15-1053. | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
PSR J1302−6350 is a pulsar and member of an eclipsing binary star system with the blue O9.5Ve-class star LS 2883. The pair has an eccentric orbit that is inclined to the line of sight from Earth by about 36°, leading to a 40-day-long eclipse each time the pulsar passes behind the star. The pulsar has a period of about 48 ms and a luminosity of 8.3 × 1035 erg/s. It emits very high energy gamma rays that vary on a time scale of several days.
The star LS 2883 has about 10 solar masses and is 6 solar radii in size. The rate of rotation is about 280 km/s at the equator, or 70% of the breakup velocity.