Visualization of J0247-25
This animation shows the main features of the recently discovered binary
system J0247-25. The larger star is an SX Phe-type star that pulsates in
multiple modes with periods near 40 minutes. The smaller star, J0247-25B, is
the remnant of a star that has been stripped of its outer layers to reveal a
shell-hydrogen burning core. This star pulsates in at least 3 modes with
periods near 5 minutes.
The relative sizes of the stars are correctly shown relative to their
separation. The timescales for the pulsations on both stars are correct
relative to the orbital period of the binary, which is about 16 hours. We do
not currently known the exact pulsation modes of the stars, so the pattern
of the pulsations on the stars are arbitrary. The constrast of the image has
been set to show the pulsations clearly, in reality the size of the
variations is much more subtle that shown here.
New! Listen to J0247-25!
Click the Play button below to here the pulsation signal from J0247-25 scaled
up by 19 octaves!
What am I hearing?
The pulsation signal from J0247-25 has been scaled up in frequency into the
audio range so that we can hear it. The background "hum" is caused by the low
frequency pulsations from J0247-25A. The high pitch "dialling tone" is caused
by the high frequency pulsations from J0247-25B being interupted once per
orbit when the star is eclipsed.
Images for press release
Artist's impression of the eclipsing, pulsating binary star J0247-25 (Credit:
Keele University) (Click for high resolution version).
Dr Pierre Maxted (email@example.com)
Astrophysics Group, Dept. Physics and Astronomy
Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG