On the Distances to the X-Ray Binaries Cygnus X-3 and GRS 1915+105
In this paper we significantly improve estimates of distance to the X-ray binary systems Cyg X-3 and GRS 1915+105. We report a highly accurate trigonometric parallax measurement for Cyg X-3 using the Very Long Baseline Array at 43 GHz, placing the source at a distance of ${9.67}_{-0.48}^{+0.53}$ kpc...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2023-01-01
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| Series: | The Astrophysical Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/acfe0c |
| _version_ | 1797400635530805248 |
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| author | M. J. Reid J. C. A. Miller-Jones |
| author_facet | M. J. Reid J. C. A. Miller-Jones |
| author_sort | M. J. Reid |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this paper we significantly improve estimates of distance to the X-ray binary systems Cyg X-3 and GRS 1915+105. We report a highly accurate trigonometric parallax measurement for Cyg X-3 using the Very Long Baseline Array at 43 GHz, placing the source at a distance of ${9.67}_{-0.48}^{+0.53}$ kpc. We also use Galactic proper motions and line-of-sight radial velocity measurements to determine three-dimensional (3D) kinematic distances to both systems, under the assumption that they have low peculiar velocities. This yields distances of 8.95 ± 0.96 kpc for Cyg X-3 and 9.4 ± 0.6 (statistical) ± 0.8 (systematic) for GRS 1915+105. The good agreement between parallax and 3D kinematic distances validates the assumption of low peculiar velocities, and hence small natal kicks, for both of the systems. For a source with a low peculiar velocity, given its parallax distance, Cyg X-3 should have a V _LSR near −64 ± 5 km s ^−1 . Our measurements imply a slightly higher inclination angle, and hence lower black hole mass, for GRS 1915+105 than found from previous work by Reid et al. and strengthen arguments from X-ray polarization that Cyg X-3 would be an ultraluminous X-ray source if viewed face-on. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:58:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-19ad7aa10fbd422c85aabacd4986f257 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1538-4357 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:58:24Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Astrophysical Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-19ad7aa10fbd422c85aabacd4986f2572023-12-08T10:05:47ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572023-01-0195928510.3847/1538-4357/acfe0cOn the Distances to the X-Ray Binaries Cygnus X-3 and GRS 1915+105M. J. Reid0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7223-754XJ. C. A. Miller-Jones1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3124-2814Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USAInternational Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, Curtin University , GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, AustraliaIn this paper we significantly improve estimates of distance to the X-ray binary systems Cyg X-3 and GRS 1915+105. We report a highly accurate trigonometric parallax measurement for Cyg X-3 using the Very Long Baseline Array at 43 GHz, placing the source at a distance of ${9.67}_{-0.48}^{+0.53}$ kpc. We also use Galactic proper motions and line-of-sight radial velocity measurements to determine three-dimensional (3D) kinematic distances to both systems, under the assumption that they have low peculiar velocities. This yields distances of 8.95 ± 0.96 kpc for Cyg X-3 and 9.4 ± 0.6 (statistical) ± 0.8 (systematic) for GRS 1915+105. The good agreement between parallax and 3D kinematic distances validates the assumption of low peculiar velocities, and hence small natal kicks, for both of the systems. For a source with a low peculiar velocity, given its parallax distance, Cyg X-3 should have a V _LSR near −64 ± 5 km s ^−1 . Our measurements imply a slightly higher inclination angle, and hence lower black hole mass, for GRS 1915+105 than found from previous work by Reid et al. and strengthen arguments from X-ray polarization that Cyg X-3 would be an ultraluminous X-ray source if viewed face-on.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/acfe0cRadio astrometryX-ray binary starsVery long baseline interferometryStellar distance |
| spellingShingle | M. J. Reid J. C. A. Miller-Jones On the Distances to the X-Ray Binaries Cygnus X-3 and GRS 1915+105 The Astrophysical Journal Radio astrometry X-ray binary stars Very long baseline interferometry Stellar distance |
| title | On the Distances to the X-Ray Binaries Cygnus X-3 and GRS 1915+105 |
| title_full | On the Distances to the X-Ray Binaries Cygnus X-3 and GRS 1915+105 |
| title_fullStr | On the Distances to the X-Ray Binaries Cygnus X-3 and GRS 1915+105 |
| title_full_unstemmed | On the Distances to the X-Ray Binaries Cygnus X-3 and GRS 1915+105 |
| title_short | On the Distances to the X-Ray Binaries Cygnus X-3 and GRS 1915+105 |
| title_sort | on the distances to the x ray binaries cygnus x 3 and grs 1915 105 |
| topic | Radio astrometry X-ray binary stars Very long baseline interferometry Stellar distance |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/acfe0c |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mjreid onthedistancestothexraybinariescygnusx3andgrs1915105 AT jcamillerjones onthedistancestothexraybinariescygnusx3andgrs1915105 |