GX 339-4
GX 339-4 is an X-ray binary star in the constellation Ara, about 32,620 light-years from Earth.
Black hole X-ray binary in Ara that flares up in outbursts every few years
Facts
| Type | X-ray binary star |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Ara |
| Position (J2000) | 17h 02m 49s, −48° 47′ |
| Distance | 32,620 light-years (its light set off about 32,620 years ago) |
| Studied in | 2,274 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
GX 339-4 is highest in the sky at midnight in June. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 21° above the horizon; from 50° N it never rises.
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 Ara
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · Data sources & credits