Counterpart to XTE J0119-731
M. J. Coe and B. T. Gaensicke (Southampton University)
We report optical spectroscopic observations of the field of the new 2.16s X-ray pulsar in the SMC were carried out on the night of 7/8 February 2003, shortly after it was reported by Corbet et al in IAUC # 8064 on 3 February 2003. Two emission-line optical counterparts were first identified by searching the XTE error box using SIMBAD : [MA93] 1864 and Lin 526. Optical spectra were obtained on both these objects using the SAAO 1.9m telescope. The first brighter source, however, revealed no emission lines, whereas the second source, Lin 526, exhibited strong H alpha and H beta emission. The equivalent width of the H alpha was 40 +/- 5 Angstroms and this object is therefore proposed as the most likely counterpart to XTE J0119-731.
optical,x-ray,binary,neutron star,pulsar,star,transient