Illustration of 4U 0614+091, an X-ray binary system
Date: 21 June 2010
Satellite: XMM-Newton
Depicts: Illustration of the X-ray binary system, 4U 0614+091
Copyright: ESA
This illustration depicts 4U 0614+091, an exotic binary system composed of two stellar remnants, a neutron star and a white dwarf.
A long-sought-after emission line of oxygen, carrying the imprint of strong gravitational fields, has been discovered in the XMM-Newton spectrum of this system.
Astronomers can use this line to probe extreme gravity effects in the region close to the surface of a neutron star.
Last Update: 1 September 2019
