Open AccessThe X‐ray transient XTE J2012+381
Author(s) -
Hynes R. I.,
Roche P.,
Charles P. A.,
Coe M. J.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-8711.1999.02653.x
Subject(s) - physics , astrophysics , light curve , sky , plateau (mathematics) , star (game theory) , astronomy , transient (computer programming) , infrared , be star , orbital period , stars , mathematical analysis , mathematics , computer science , operating system
We present optical and infrared observations of the soft X‐ray transient (SXT) XTE J2012+381 and identify the optical counterpart with a faint red star heavily blended with a brighter foreground star. The fainter star is coincident with the radio counterpart and appears to show weak H α emission and to have faded between observations. The RXTE All Sky Monitor light curve of XTE J2012+381 is unusual for an SXT in that after an extended linear decay, it settled into a plateau state for about 40 days before undergoing a weak mini‐outburst. We discuss the nature of the object and suggest similarities to long orbital period SXTs.