Alternate Names

IL Lupi

Type

Stellar mass

Location

In the constellation Lupus

Distance

25,000 light-years (7500 parsecs)

Mass

9 times the mass of the Sun

Size

Diameter roughly equal to the size of a large city

Discovery Methods

• Detection of an accretion disk

1

An artist’s concept shows an X-ray nova like 4U 1543-47. The black hole, which is at the center of the disk at right, steals gas from its larger companion. The disk periodically erupts, producing outbursts of X-rays. [ESA]

This document was last modified: March 14, 2012.