Omega Centauri Chandra X-Ray Point Source Catalog with 180 Detections

A 72.4 ks Chandra ACIS exposure from 2000 January 24-25 analyzed the globular cluster Omega Centauri. The catalog contains 180 detected X-ray sources to a limiting flux of ~4.3 x 10^-16 erg/cm^2/s, with an estimated 45-70 sources identified as cluster members. The analysis, published by NASA, explores the population of accreting compact binaries like cataclysmic variables and active binaries.

Use Cases

• Study cataclysmic variable formation channels based on the estimated 20-35 CVs in the cluster.
• Analyze the population of active binary stars with coronae based on optical identifications.
• Model X-ray luminosity functions in dense stellar environments based on source counts in soft, medium, and hard energy bands.
• Investigate primordial versus dynamical binary evolution based on the noted lower CVs-per-mass ratio compared to the field.

Strengths

• Contains 180 detected X-ray sources with limiting flux and luminosity metrics explicitly stated.
• Analysis covers a ~17' x 17' field encompassing three cluster core radii, providing spatial context.
• Includes cross-identification with known variable stars, yielding 8 matches for validation.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment for large-scale analysis.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Data gathered from two Chandra ACIS-I exposures in 'very faint' mode, with source detection and background subtraction performed using CIAO tools.

Time Range

Observations from 2000 January 24-25.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 17:55:14.602445; freshness should be verified.

Geography

The globular cluster Omega Centauri (NGC 5139), at a distance of 4.9 kpc.