Hidden companion orbiting massive star AT 2016blu identified
Astronomers have detected a previously unseen object that draws material from the giant star AT 2016blu every 113 days. The companion is likely a stellar‑mass black hole or a neutron star. AT 2016blu, weighing at least 33 times the Sun, resides in the spiral galaxy NGC 4559 roughly 30 million light‑years from Earth and has shown at least 27 optical bursts since 2012. The discovery was reported in the latest issue of The Astrophysical Journal.
Key facts
- Companion orbits the star with a period of 113 days.
- The hidden object could be either a black hole or a neutron star.
- AT 2016blu is at least 33 solar masses.
- The star lies in NGC 4559, about 30 million light‑years away.
- At least 27 optical bursts have been recorded from 2012 to 2026.
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Why it matters
It sheds light on how massive stars interact with compact companions.
What changed
First published from NASA and Phys.org