Observations of a bright, variable X-ray source in a globular cluster

The source 3U 1820-30 in NGC 6624 has been observed with the OSO-7 satellite. It shows variability of up to a factor of 5 in intensity over days and months and of a factor of 2 in about 5-10 minutes, but there are no evident periodicities. The luminosity of the source is 10 to the 38th ergs per sec (1-10 keV). Arguments are examined which suggest that mass accretion onto a neutron star or black hole provides the most likely mechanism of X-ray production.