Astronomers discover a bright X-ray source in the Milky Way.They see no counterpart in the optical bands,but it has another star orbiting it,and they determine that the X-ray source has a mass of 10 MSᵤn.What is the most likely origin of the X-rays?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The mass of 10 MSun is too high for a neutron star or a white dwarf, which typically have masses around 1.4 MSun. The lack of an optical counterpart and the high mass suggest the presence of a black hole, which can emit X-rays as matter from the companion star is accreted onto it.

Astronomers Discover a Bright X-Ray Source in the Milky Way