Using the Japan-led XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) observatory, astronomers have directly observed a superdense neutron star capturing the stellar wind of a massive blue hypergiant companion. The giant star's outflow is being pulled in by the compact object, and that captured material provides the power source for intense X-ray flares.
The finding gives researchers a clear look at how a neutron star can accrete matter from a companion's wind rather than through a direct stream of transferred gas. The X-ray activity is tied to the flow of the stellar wind, offering new insight into the behavior of these extreme binary systems.