Navigate the night sky to spot Cygnus X-1, a notorious black hole, with our comprehensive guide for your astrological pursuit
In the heart of the Swan constellation, nestled between the bright stars Sadr (Gamma Cygni) and Albireo (Beta Cygni), lies a star known as Eta Cygni. This star serves as an intriguing starting point for an astronomical journey that leads us to an extraordinary discovery – the black hole known as Cygnus X-1.
Cygnus X-1 is a component in a high mass X-ray binary system, where it orbits a supergiant variable star, HDE 226868 (HIP 98298). From an observational standpoint, Cygnus X-1 is essentially invisible to the naked eye, but by star hopping to HDE 226868, you can catch a glimpse of this fascinating object.
To find HDE 226868, look 11 arcminutes to the east of HIP 98193, then 18 arcminutes east of TYC2678-2291-1. A mag. +10 star is located an arcminute to the north of HDE 226868, providing a useful reference point.
By observing HDE 226868, you are also observing a black hole, Cygnus X-1. This energetic and hot accretion disk is the source of X-rays that gave away the existence of the HDE 226868's companion black hole. The resulting accretion disk around the black hole is a spectacle of cosmic proportions, emitting intense energy and heat.
Cygnus X-1 was identified as a black hole by Paul Murdin and Louise Webster in 1971, and it has since become one of the best-studied black holes in the universe. The black hole Cygnus X-1 has an effective radius of 44km and is believed to have a mass equivalent to 21.2 solar masses.
As a black hole, Cygnus X-1 possesses a unique property: its escape velocity has exceeded the speed of light. This means that no light can escape a black hole, leading to many strange space and time related phenomena. The objects in the Cygnus X-1 system orbit one another, separated by just 0.2 AU, a testament to the immense gravitational pull of the black hole.
For those interested in learning more about locating Cygnus X-1, the guide originally appeared in the October 2021 issue of the website. If you have any questions or need further assistance, you can reach out to us at contactus@our website.
In conclusion, the discovery of Cygnus X-1 has opened a new window into the understanding of black holes and their properties. The next time you gaze at the stars in the Swan constellation, remember that you are looking at one of the most enigmatic and fascinating objects in the universe – a black hole hidden in plain sight.
