LS 5039

LS 5039

A broad-band optical light curve for V479 Scuti, adapted from Sarty et al. (2011)
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Scutum
Right ascension 18h 26m 15.0568s
Declination −14° 50 54.242
Apparent magnitude (V) 11.27
Characteristics
Spectral type O(f)N6.5V + Black hole
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)17.2 ± 0.7 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: 6.826 mas/yr
Dec.: −8.515 mas/yr
Distance8200±300 ly
(2500±100 pc)
Orbit
Period (P)3.90603 ± 0.00017 d
Eccentricity (e)0.31 ± 0.04
Inclination (i)24.9 ± 2.8°
Periastron epoch (T)HJD 2451943.09 ± 0.10
Argument of periastron (ω)
(secondary)
226 ± 8°
Semi-amplitude (K1)
(primary)
19.4 ± 0.9 km/s
Details
O star
Mass22.9+3.4
−2.9
 M
Radius9.3+0.7
−0.6
 R
Luminosity182000 L
Surface gravity (log g)3.85 cgs
Temperature39000 K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)113 km/s
Black hole
Mass3.7+1.3
−1.0
 M
RadiusProbably 10.93 km
Other designations
V479 Sct, TYC 5702-1197-1, 2MASS J18261505-1450542
Database references
SIMBADdata

LS 5039 is a binary system in the constellation of Scutum. It has an apparent magnitude of 11.27, and it is about 8,200 light-years away.

LS 5039 consists of a massive O-type main-sequence star, and a compact object (likely a black hole) that emits HE (high energy) and VHE (very high energy) gamma rays. It is one of the only three known star systems of this kind, together with LS I +61 303 and PSR B1259-63. The two objects orbit each other every 3.9 days, along a moderately eccentric orbit. Additionally, it is one of the few massive X-ray binaries known to be associated with radio emission.