TW Pictoris

TW Pictoris

A light curve for TW Pictoris. The main plot, adapted from Scaringi et al. (2021), shows the long-term visual band variation, and the inset plot, adapted from Patterson and Moulden (1993), shows the periodic variability.
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox ICRS
Constellation Pictor
Right ascension 05h 34m 50.586s
Declination −58° 01′ 40.77″
Apparent magnitude (V) 15.10 (14.1 - 15.6)
Characteristics
U−B color index 0.99
B−V color index 0.27
Variable type Nova-like variable
Astrometry
Proper motion (μ) RA: −11.632 mas/yr
Dec.: 3.745 mas/yr
Parallax (π)2.2839±0.0223 mas
Distance1,430 ± 10 ly
(438 ± 4 pc)
Other designations
TW Pic, H0534-581
Database references
SIMBADdata

TW Pictoris is a 14th magnitude cataclysmic variable star system in the southern constellation of Pictor. 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. One of the components is an accreting white dwarf.

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, but the lack of an X-ray pulsation makes this less likely. The current classification remains controversial.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Scaringi, S.; et al. (October 2021). "An accreting white dwarf displaying fast transitional mode switching". Nature Astronomy. 6: 98–102. arXiv:2110.09124. Bibcode:2022NatAs...6...98S. doi:10.1038/s41550-021-01494-x. S2CID 239015940.
  2. ↑ Patterson, Joseph; Moulden, Margaret (July 1993). "Rapid Oscillations in Cataclysmic Variables. X. TW Pictoris (= H0534-581)". Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. 105: 779–784. Bibcode:1993PASP..105..779P. doi:10.1086/133229. S2CID 122934884.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Brown, A. G. A.; et al. (Gaia collaboration) (August 2018). "Gaia Data Release 2: Summary of the contents and survey properties". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 616. A1. arXiv:1804.09365. Bibcode:2018A&A...616A...1G. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201833051. Gaia DR2 record for this source at VizieR.
  4. 1 2 3 O'Donoghue, D.; et al. (May 2013). "The Edinburgh-Cape Blue Object Survey - III. Zone 2; galactic latitudes -30° > b > -40°". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 431 (1): 240–251. Bibcode:2013MNRAS.431..240O. doi:10.1093/mnras/stt158. hdl:10566/3095.
  5. ↑ Watson, Christopher (4 January 2010). "TW Pictoris". AAVSO Website. American Association of Variable Star Observers. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  6. ↑ Samus, N. N.; et al. (2017). "General Catalogue of Variable Stars". Astronomy Reports. 5.1. 61 (1): 80–88. Bibcode:2017ARep...61...80S. doi:10.1134/S1063772917010085. S2CID 125853869. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  7. ↑ "TW Pic". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  8. ↑ Balman, S.; et al. (June 2016). XMM-Newton Observations of TW PIC in comparison with the Archival SWIFT and RXTE data. XMM-Newton: The Next Decade, Proceedings of the Conference held 9-11 May, 2016 at ESAC, Madrid. Bibcode:2016xnnd.confE..73B. 73.
  9. ↑ Tuohy, I. R.; et al. (December 1986). "Identification of two southern X-ray emitting cataclysmic variables". Astrophysical Journal. 311: 275–298. Bibcode:1986ApJ...311..275T. doi:10.1086/164770.
  10. ↑ Mouchet, M.; et al. (October 1991). "The UV variability of the intermediate polars TW Pictoris (H 0534-581) and TX Columbae (1H 0542-407)". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 250: 99. Bibcode:1991A&A...250...99M.
  11. ↑ Norton, A. J.; et al. (February 2000). "The nature of TW Pictoris". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 312 (2): 362–370. Bibcode:2000MNRAS.312..362N. doi:10.1046/j.1365-8711.2000.03216.x.