INTEGRALPlanckGaiaPOLARCHEOPSEuclidATHENA
HEAVENSFACTCTALOFTSPICAJEM-EUSOXIPEeXTPTheseus
XRISMMAGBOUNDSMARTNet
ISDCCDCI
Data Centre for Astrophysics
Astronomy Department of the University of Geneva

Discovery of IGR J17497-2821 : a new X-ray nova

INTEGRAL discovered a hard X-ray transient on 17 Sep. 2006 near the Galactic Centre. Infrared and X-ray follow-up observations pin-point the source location and show that it is a new X-ray nova and likely a black-hole candidate.
Walter et al. 2007, A&A 461, L17-L20   |   Press Release

ABSTRACT

Context. A new hard X-ray transient has been discovered by INTEGRAL on 2006 Sep. 17 at 1 degree from the Galactic Centre.
Aims. INTEGRAL, Swift/XRT and optical photometric observations are used to characterize IGR J17497-2821 and to unveil its nature.
Methods. The X-ray position has been refined to arcsec level through a study of the optical variability of the possible counterparts. Hard X-ray variability and spectroscopy are used to determine the nature of the source outburst.
Results. IGR J17497-2821 is a new X-ray Nova in low-hard state, probably a new Black-Hole Candidate.
Discovery of the X-ray nova IGR J17497-2821
Animation of two images from the IBIS/ISGRI instrument on board INTEGRAL showing the galactic centre region in hard X-rays. In one frame, the bright X-ray nova IGR J17497-2821 (indicated by the arrow) is seen during its discovery outburst, while the other frame is the same field as observed prior to the nova event. The other variable sources are well known X-ray binaries.
Credits: ISDC/R. Walter
Artist's representation of an X-ray nova
The compact object on the right - a neutron star or a black hole - accretes gas from a normal companion star. The gas swirls in a disk around the compact object at very high velocity close to the speed of light from where it emits X-rays.
Credits: ESA
Infrared image of stars around the new X-ray nova IGR J17497-2821
I-band observation of the field around the new X-ray nova IGR J17497-2821 (circled source number 1) obtained by the Leonhard Euler telescope on 21 September 2006. This source was found to have brightened by about 1 magnitude compared to earlier observations of this region. Note that the image is on a much larger scale as the INTEGRAL image shown above. The optical image would easily fit within a single pixel of the INTEGRAL image.
Credits: ISDC/R. Walter
View of the Swiss "Leonhard Euler" telescope at La Silla, Chile
This 1.2-meter telescope is named after the famous Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler (1707-1783). The telescope was coupled with a CCD camera to identify IGR J17497-2821.
Credits: ESO
XMM-Newton image of the new X-ray nova IGR J17497-2821
X-ray image obtained by ESA's XMM-Newton satellite during the night of 22-23 September 2006 showing the intense X-ray emission of the X-ray nova IGR J17497-2821.
Credits: ISDC/R. Walter

Chronology of observations

17 Sep.Discovery of IGR J17497-2821 with INTEGRAL (ATel 885)
19 Sep.Start of follow-up X-ray observations with NASA's Swift satellite (ATel 899)
20 Sep.RXTE follow-up X-ray observations (ATel 891)
21 Sep.Euler telescope follow-up optical observation
21 Sep.Magellan Baade telescope follow-up infrared observation (ATel 909)
22 Sep.Start of optical monitoring by the IRSF telescope of the South African Astronomical Observatory (ATel 936)
22 Sep.Start of X-ray follow-up observations with XMM-Newton
22 Sep.Observation by the HESS Cherenkov telescope in Namibia
25 Sep.X-ray observations by the Japanese Suzaku satellite (ATel 914)
1st Oct.X-ray observations by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory (ATel 907)

The full list of Astronomer's Telegrams related to IGR J17497-2821 is available here.

by Roland Walter on 2006-11-27 >> INTEGRAL science results >> All science results