Cygnus X-3

Also known as Cyg X-3

Cygnus X-3 is an X-ray binary star in the constellation Cygnus, about 29,350 light-years from Earth.

X-ray binary and gamma-ray source

Open it on the live sky map Plan Night Exploration

Cygnus X-3: a sky-survey photograph of its field — Sky survey view (DSS2 colour, or a backup survey)

Facts

Type	X-ray binary star (spectral type WN4/5-6/7)
Constellation	Cygnus
Position (J2000)	20h 32m 25s, +40° 57′
Distance	29,350 light-years (its light set off about 29,350 years ago)
Studied in	2,065 scientific papers (SIMBAD)

When and how to see it

Cygnus X-3 is highest in the sky at midnight in July. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 69° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 81°.

Heights are worked out for India and for 50° N. Set your location in Settings to see them for where you are.

For tonight's best time from your own town, the darkness and the Moon, open it on the map and see its "Tonight from your location" card.

More in Cygnus

Everything in Cygnus · All 88 constellations · All sky objects

Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · Data sources & credits