RX J0806.3+1527

RX J0806.3+1527

An artist's depiction of J0806.
Observation data Epoch       Equinox
Constellation	Cancer
Right ascension	08h 06m 23.20s
Declination	+15° 27' 30.20"
Distance	1,600 Light-years
Binary orbit
Period (P)	321.5 seconds
Separation:	0.0005 AU
Details
Mass	0.5 (primary) / 0.5 (b) M☉
Other designations
RX J0806.3+1527, RX J0806, J0806, HM Cancri, HM Cnc

RX J0806.3+1527 or HM Cancri (sometimes shortened to HM Cnc or J0806 after establishing identity) is an X-ray binary star system about 1,600 light-years (490 pc) away.^[1] It comprises two dense white dwarfs orbiting each other once every 321.5 seconds, at an estimated distance of only 80,000 kilometres (50,000 mi) apart (about 1/5 the distance between the Earth and the Moon). The two stars orbit each other at speeds in excess of 400 kilometres per second (890,000 mph). The stars are estimated to be about half as massive as our own Sun, yet only the size of the Earth, which contributes to their high density and is typical of white dwarfs. Astronomers believe that the two stars will eventually merge, based on data from the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, which shows that the orbital period of the two stars is steadily decreasing at a rate of 1.2 milliseconds per year as they thus are getting closer by approximately 60 centimetres (2.0 ft) per day.

Observations

As RX J0806.3+1527 is a pair of white dwarfs, it has a relatively low luminosity, and so can not be observed directly at this time. Instead, scientists make observations by recording the X-rays emitted. It is by this method that scientists were able to determine their orbital period as the magnitude of the X-rays spikes every 321.5 s.

Relation to general relativity

Because this star system is losing its orbital energy, it strongly supports Albert Einstein's theory of General Relativity. This theory predicts that the stars will lose orbital energy by creating gravitational waves. Scientists believe that RX J0806.3+1527 may be the largest source of gravitational waves in the Galaxy.^{[citation needed]}

Sources

• APOD 2005 June 1 - White Dwarf Star Spiral
• NASA Sees Orbiting Stars Flooding Space With Gravitational Waves
• RX J0806.3+1527: Orbiting Stars Flooding Space with Gravitational Waves

Further reading

• Monitoring the spin up in RX J0806+15
• Phase Coherent Timing of RX J0806.3+1527 with ROSAT and Chandra
• RX J0806
• RX J0806.3+1527 Gravitational Wave Merger
• SPECTROSCOPIC EVIDENCE FOR A 5.4-MINUTE ORBITAL PERIOD IN HM CANCRI