XRBCAT: X-Ray Binary Catalog Based on van Paradijs (1996) Compilation

XRBCAT is a catalog of X-ray binaries, based on a 1996 compilation and updated to include new transient systems discovered up to its last update. The catalog, provided by NASA HEASARC, includes basic information like source names, positions, periods, object classes, fluxes, and optical magnitudes. Its last update was on April 22, 1998, and it explicitly states the information is basic and not complete.

Use Cases

• Classifying X-ray binary systems based on the object class field mentioned in the description.
• Analyzing the distribution of pulse or orbital periods for known X-ray binaries.
• Correlating X-ray flux (maximum and minimum) with optical V magnitude data where available.
• Studying the discovery timeline and characteristics of transient X-ray binary systems added after 1996.

Strengths

• Catalog is based on the established van Paradijs (1996) compilation, providing a foundational reference.
• Includes updates from a noted expert (Nick White) to cover new transient systems discovered up to the last update.

Limitations

• The catalog's last update was on April 22, 1998, making it over 25 years old and potentially missing modern discoveries.
• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.
• The description explicitly states the information is basic and not complete, and there may be incomplete or missing sources.

Provenance

Source

NASA HEASARC (High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center).

Collection Method

Compilation based on the van Paradijs (1996) catalog, with subsequent updates by an individual (Nick White).

Time Range

Covers sources known up to the last catalog update on April 22, 1998.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 17:21:24.495099; freshness should be verified as the underlying data was last updated in 1998.