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SS 433

The nebula W50 is the remnant of a supernova, which exploded 40 000 years ago. The core of the former star now is a neutron star or a black hole, which is orbited by its partner, a heavy blue star or a subgiant. Together the two form the object SS 433, the first microquasar to be discovered and one of the most peculiar stars we know.

The central star A pulls gas out of the hull of its companion B. This gathers around A in an accretion disk, before trickling down. It becomes extremely hot and emits X-rays.
The companions' orbit path is different to the axis of rotation of the central star, so the gas jets of B move towards the disk in a helix. This gives W50 its elongated shape. The jets thereby accelerate to 26% of the speed of light and show relativistic effects, which gives the object an extremely high redshift.

Constellation: Aquila
Distance: 16 000 light-years
Visual magnitude: 14.2
Orbit period of SS 433 A and B: 13.1 days

SS 433 B

Spectral class: O - B
Mass: 11 - 27 * Sun

Back: List of Special Stars part 2 		    W50 and SS 433
W50 and SS 433
Photo: Image courtesy of NRAO/AUI
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