TESS spots the rise of a black hole X-ray binary system
Why it matters: This accidental discovery could significantly improve our understanding of black hole X-ray binary systems.
- NASA's TESS satellite, typically used for discovering exoplanets, accidentally observed the beginning of an outburst from a black hole X-ray binary.
- AT 2019wey, a black hole X-ray binary, was the specific system whose rising outburst was detected by TESS.
- The observations, presented on March 25, are expected to provide crucial data for a better understanding of the nature of this particular black hole system.
NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), primarily designed for exoplanet hunting, unexpectedly captured the initial outburst of a black hole X-ray binary system, AT 2019wey. This serendipitous observation, presented on March 25, offers a unique opportunity to enhance our understanding of such binary systems.
