Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letters to Editor
  • Published:

Observations of Periodic Variations in the X-ray Intensity of Cygnus X-3

Nature Physical Science volume 241, pages 28–30 (1973)Cite this article

Abstract

A 4.8 hour periodicity in the X-ray intensity of Cygnus X-3 has been reported1–3. The Uhuru observations of May 8 to May 17, 1972, show a smooth, nearly sinusoidal modulation of about half the source intensity1–2. The Copernicus data3, which have a similar appearance, were collected during September 1972. This was after the first outburst of a radio source4,5 which may be associated with Cygnus X-3. We present here a study of the time variability of the X-ray intensity of Cygnus X-3 with data collected by the OSO-7 satellite in December 1971 and in January, June and July 1972.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

References

  1. Brinkman, A., Parsignault, D., Giacconi, R., Gursky, H., Kellogg, E., Schreier, E., and Tananbaum, H., IAU Circ, No. 2446 (1972).

  2. Parsignault, D. R., Gursky, H., Kellogg, E. M., Matilsky, T., Murray, S., Schreier, E., Tananbaum, H., Giacconi, R., and Brinkman, A. C., Nature Physical Science, 239, 123 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Sanford, P. W., and Hawkins, F. H., Nature Physical Science, 239, 135 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Gregory, P. C., Nature, 239, 439 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Hjellming, R. M., and Balick, B., Nature Physical Science, 239, 135 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Clark, G. W., Bradt, H. V., Lewin, W. H. G., Markert, T. H., Schnopper, H. W., and Sprott, G. F., Astrophys. J. (in the press).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Space Research and Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts

    C. R. CANIZARES, J. E. McCLINTOCK, G. W. CLARK, W. H. G. LEWIN, H. W. SCHNOPPER & G. F. SPROTT

Authors
  1. C. R. CANIZARES
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. E. McCLINTOCK
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G. W. CLARK
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  4. W. H. G. LEWIN
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  5. H. W. SCHNOPPER
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  6. G. F. SPROTT
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

CANIZARES, C., McCLINTOCK, J., CLARK, G. et al. Observations of Periodic Variations in the X-ray Intensity of Cygnus X-3. Nature Physical Science 241, 28–30 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/physci241028a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/physci241028a0

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing