TY Pyxidis explained

TY Pyxidis is an eclipsing binary star in the constellation Pyxis. The apparent magnitude ranges from 6.85 to 7.5 over 3.2 days.[1]

The two components are both of spectral type G5IV, have a mass of 1.2 solar masses and revolve around each other every 3.2 days.[2] Each star is around 2.2 times the diameter of the Sun.

The system is classified as either a RS Canum Venaticorum variable[1] or a BY Draconis variable, stars that vary on account of prominent starspot activity, and lies 184 ± 5 light years away. The system emits X-rays, and analysing the emission curve over time led Pres and colleagues to conclude that there was a loop of material arcing between the two stars.[3]

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: TY Pyxidis . Watson, Christopher . 4 January 2010 . The International Variable Star Index. American Association of Variable Star Observers. 30 July 2015.
  2. The G-type eclipsing binary TY Pyxidis. . Andersen . J. . Popper . D. M. . 1975 . Astronomy and Astrophysics . 39 . 131–34 . 1975A&A....39..131A .
  3. Pres, Pawel . Siarkowski, Marek . Sylwester, Janusz . 1995. Soft X-ray imaging of the TY Pyx binary system - II. Modelling the interconnecting loop-like structure. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 275. 1. 43–55. 1995MNRAS.275...43P. 10.1093/mnras/275.1.43 . free.