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The X-ray Variability of Eta Car, 1996-2010X-ray photometry in the 2-10 keY band of the the supermassive binary star Eta Car has been measured with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer from 1996-2010. The ingress to X-ray minimum is consistent with a period of 2024 days. The 2009 X-ray minimum began on January 162009 and showed an unexpectedly abrupt recovery starting after 12 Feb 2009. The X-ray colors become harder about half-way through all three minima and continue until flux recovery. The behavior of the fluxes and X-ray colors for the most recent X-ray minimum, along with Chandra high resolution grating spectra at key phases suggests a significant change in the inner wind of Eta Car, a possible indicator that the star is entering a new unstable phase of mass loss.
Document ID
20100002905
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Corcoran, Michael F.
(Universities Space Research Association Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Hamaguchi, K.
(Maryland Univ. Baltimore County MD, United States)
Gull, T.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Owocki, S.
(Delaware Univ. DE, United States)
Pittard, J.
(Leeds Univ. United Kingdom)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
January 3, 2010
Subject Category
Astronomy
Meeting Information
Meeting: 215th American Astronomical Society Conference
Location: Washington, DC
Country: United States
Start Date: January 3, 2010
End Date: January 7, 2010
Sponsors: American Astronomical Society
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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