Cygnus X-1
Galactic X-ray source in the constellation Cygnus that is very likely a black hole
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Summary
Cygnus X-1 is a binary star[1]. It ranks in the top 1% of binary star entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (4,513 views/month).[2]
Key Facts
- Instance of: astrophysical X-ray source[3], spectroscopic binary[4], rotating ellipsoidal variable[5], Herbig Ae/Be star[6], blue supergiant[7], high-mass X-ray binary[8], gamma-ray source[9], near-infrared source[10], variable star[11]
- Constellation: Cygnus[12]
- Spectral class: O9.7Iabpvar[13], OB+[14], B0Ib[15], B[16]
- Commons category: Cygnus X-1[17]
- Catalog code: HD 226868[18], SAO 69181[19], HIP 98298[20], GSC 02678-00791[21], 2MASS J19582166+3512057[22], 1RXS J195821.9+351156[23], BD+34 3815[24], GCRV 12319[25], HIC 98298[26], PPM 83929[27], TYC 2678-791-1[28], UBV 17047[29], V1357 Cyg[30], uvby98 100226868[31]
- Type of variable star: rotating ellipsoidal variable[32]
- Apparent magnitude: 8.91[33], 9.72[34], 9.38[35], 8.42[36], 6.872[37], 6.652[38], 6.501[39], 8.536617[40]
- Absolute magnitude: -6.5[41]
- Different from: Cygnus X-3[42]
- Luminosity: 105 solar luminosity[43]
- Mass: 14.8 solar mass[44]
- Radius: 21.0 solar radius[45]
- Parallax: 0.4218 milliarcsecond[46], 0.58 milliarcsecond[47], 1.68 milliarcsecond[48], 0.538 milliarcsecond[49], 0.4439 milliarcsecond[50]
- Radial velocity: -2.7 kilometre per second[51], -13.0 kilometre per second[52], -2.70 kilometre per second[53], -12.0 kilometre per second[54]
- Distance from Earth: 2370.7918 parsec[55], 2.10 kiloparsec[56], 2252.76 parsec[57]
- Stellar rotational velocity: 106 kilometre per second[58]
Why It Matters
Cygnus X-1 has Wikipedia articles in 26 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[59] It is known by 45 alternative names across languages and contexts.[60]