Abstract
X-RAY novae form a subclass of low-mass X-ray binaries, which typically consist of a neutron star accreting material from a low-mass, late-type companion. In a few cases, however—notably A0620–00 (ref. 1)—, the accreting object may be a black hole. The detection and study of the optical counterpart is then of great importance in understanding the origin of the X-ray emission and the nature of the companion. We report here the discovery of a new X-ray nova, Nova Muscae 1991, which we found in a search for the optical counterpart of the new transient X-ray source GRS1121–68. The optical position, light-curve and early spectral development of the outburst support the identification of Nova Muscae 1991 as a binary, and similarities with A0620–00 (known optically as V616 Mon) in its early evolutionary stages led us to classify Nova Muscae 1991 as a candidate black-hole binary.
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Valle, M., Jarvis, B. & West, R. Evidence for a black hole in the X-ray nova Muscae 1991. Nature 353, 50–52 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1038/353050a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/353050a0
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