Apep (star system)

Apep

Infrared image by the Very Large Telescope (ESO/Callingham et al.)[a]
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Norma
Right ascension 16h 00m 50.5s
Declination −51° 42′ 45″
Apparent magnitude (V) 17.5
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage WR binary
Apparent magnitude (J) 10.2
Apparent magnitude (K) 6.9
Astrometry
Distance2,000+400
−300[3] pc
Absolute magnitude (MV)-5.15 / -5.15 / -7.4[3]
Other designations
WR 70-16, 2MASS J16005047-5142449[4]
Database references
SIMBADdata

Apep is a triple star system containing a Wolf–Rayet binary and a hot supergiant, located in the constellation of Norma. Named after the serpent deity from Egyptian mythology, the star system is surrounded by a vast complex of stellar wind and cosmic dust thrown into space by the high rotation speed of the binary's primary star and formed into a "pinwheel" shape by the secondary star's influence. Ground-based studies of the system in the 2010s concluded that the system was the best-known gamma-ray burst progenitor candidate in the Milky Way galaxy.

  1. ^ Callingham et al. 2018, page 3, "Figure 1. VISIR 8.9 μm image of Apep taken on 2016 August 13, displaying the exotic dust pattern being sculpted by the system. The 2.24 μm NACO image of the region bounded by the blue box, of dimension 1.8" × 1.8", is shown in the upper right corner".
  2. ^ ESO staff (19 November 2018). "Coils of Apep". European Southern Observatory (ESO). Archived from the original on 6 January 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2019. Field of view: 0.26 x 0.26 arcminutes
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference callingham2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "AX J1600.9-5142". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 24 December 2021.


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