| |
| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Pictor |
| Right ascension | 05h34m 50.586s[3] |
| Declination | −58° 01′ 40.77″[3] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 15.10[4] (14.1 - 15.6)[5] |
| Characteristics | |
| U−B color index | 0.99[4] |
| B−V color index | 0.27[4] |
| Variable type | Nova-like variable[6] |
| Astrometry | |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: −11.632 mas/yr[3] Dec.: 3.745 mas/yr[3] |
| Parallax (π) | 2.2839 ± 0.0223 mas[3] |
| Distance | 1,430 ± 10 ly (438 ± 4 pc) |
| Other designations | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
TW Pictoris is a 14th magnitude cataclysmic variable star system in the southern constellationofPictor. It is located at a distance of approximately 1,430 light-years based on parallax measurements. Photometric observations in the visual band suggest a binary system with an orbital period of 6.06 hours.[8] One of the components is an accreting white dwarf.[1]
The X-ray source H0534-581 was identified from the data collected by the HEAO 1 satellite in 1979. In 1984, a candidate optical counterpart was identified by I. R. Tuohy and associates from photographs taken at the Schmidt telescope. A low-resolution spectrum revealed this is a cataclysmic variable, and it was assigned the variable star designation TW Pictoris. It was initially proposed to be an intermediate polar,[9][10] but the lack of an X-ray pulsation makes this less likely.[11] The current classification remains controversial.[1]
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