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Artist's concept of Cygnus X-1, a luminous x-ray source in the constellation Cygnus.

In 1964 a luminous x-ray source in the sky caught the attention of astronomers. This source contained the first black hole discovered. It orbits the star HDE 226868, also known as Cygnus X-1, 6,000 light years away in the constellation Cygnus The Swan. The star is a massive blue giant, containing between 20-40 solar masses. The compact object captures some of the massive solar wind that flows from the blue giant. The black hole is not close enough to distort the shape of the star. That is why there is no steady stream of matter flowing in this binary star system.
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Title:
Artist's concept of Cygnus X-1, a luminous x-ray source in the constellation Cygnus.
Caption:
In 1964 a luminous x-ray source in the sky caught the attention of astronomers. This source contained the first black hole discovered. It orbits the star HDE 226868, also known as Cygnus X-1, 6,000 light years away in the constellation Cygnus The Swan. The star is a massive blue giant, containing between 20-40 solar masses. The compact object captures some of the massive solar wind that flows from the blue giant. The black hole is not close enough to distort the shape of the star. That is why there is no steady stream of matter flowing in this binary star system.
Category:
Space
Credit:
Album / Fahad Sulehria/Stocktrek Images
Releases:
? Model Release: No - ? Property Release: No
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Image size:
3667 x 4890 px | 51.3 MB
Print size:
31.0 x 41.4 cm | 12.2 x 16.3 in (300 dpi)
Keywords: