Abstract
WE wish to suggest the possibility that the X-ray source Cen X-3 may be identified with the Algol-type variable LR Cen, based on the proximity of their coordinates1,2 and, more significantly, on the close coincidence of the orbital periods of the objects (2.08712 days for Cen X-3 (ref. 1) and 2.095595 days for LR Cen (ref. 2)). The 0.4% difference between the periods may well result from a change in period between 1930 and 1971 or from errors in the X-ray observations. The coincidence of the elements of LR Cen and Cen X-3 could be a proof of identity but unfortunately there have been no data obtained for LR Cen since 1930. Photometric and spectroscopic observations are urgently needed. Accepting that the observations are of the same system, we determine some of the characteristics of the system.
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References
Giacconi, R., Gursky, H., Kellogg, E., Schreier, E., and Tananbaum, H., Astrophys. J. Lett., 167, L67 (1971).
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Shklovsky, J. S., Astron. Zh., 48, 1114 (1971).
Becker, W., and Fenkart, R., Astron. Astrophys. Suppl., 4, 241 (1971).
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SHKLOVSKY, J., CHEREPASHCHUK, A. & EFREMOV, Y. Optical Counterpart of Cen X-3. Nature 236, 448 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1038/236448a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/236448a0
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