Vela X-1
Vela X-1 is an X-ray binary star in the constellation Vela, about 6,570 light-years from Earth.
X-ray pulsar with a supergiant companion
Facts
| Type | X-ray binary star (spectral type B0.5Ia) |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Vela |
| Position (J2000) | 9h 02m 06s, −40° 33′ |
| Distance | 6,570 light-years (its light set off about 6,570 years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 6.87 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Studied in | 1,609 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
Vela X-1 is highest in the sky at midnight in February. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 29° above the horizon; from 50° N it never rises. To see it you need binoculars.
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 Vela
Everything in Vela · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · Data sources & credits