TW Pictoris is a 14th magnitude cataclysmic variable star system in the southern constellation of Pictor. It is located at a distance of approximately 1,430 light-years based on parallax measurements. Photometric observations in the visual band suggest a binary system with an orbital period of 6.06 hours.[8] One of the components is an accreting white dwarf.[1]

TW Pictoris

A light curve for TW Pictoris. The main plot,adapted from Scaringi et al. (2021),[1] shows the long-term visual band variation, and the inset plot, adapted from Patterson and Moulden (1993),[2] shows the periodic variability.
Observation data Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation	Pictor
Right ascension	05h 34m 50.586s[3]
Declination	−58° 01′ 40.77″[3]
Apparent magnitude (V)	15.10[4] (14.1 - 15.6)[5]
Characteristics
U−B color index	0.99[4]
B−V color index	0.27[4]
Variable type	Nova-like variable[6]
Astrometry
Proper motion (μ)	RA: −11.632 mas/yr[3] Dec.: 3.745 mas/yr[3]
Parallax (π)	2.2839 ± 0.0223 mas[3]
Distance	1,430 ± 10 ly (438 ± 4 pc)
Other designations
TW Pic, H0534-581[7]
Database references
SIMBAD	data

The X-ray source H0534-581 was identified from the data collected by the HEAO 1 satellite in 1979. In 1984, a candidate optical counterpart was identified by I. R. Tuohy and associates from photographs taken at the Schmidt telescope. A low-resolution spectrum revealed this is a cataclysmic variable, and it was assigned the variable star designation TW Pictoris. It was initially proposed to be an intermediate polar,[9][10] but the lack of an X-ray pulsation makes this less likely.[11] The current classification remains controversial.[1]

References

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