HZ Herculis starA low-mass X-ray pulsar that us also an optically variable binary in which mass transfer is taking place. Such stars consist of a dwarf primary of spectral type B to F, and a neutron star that is an X-ray pulsar and possibly also an optical pulsar. The X-ray emission flips periodically between a high state and a low star, with peak optical luminosity corresponding to the high state. Related entry• variable starsRelated category• TYPES OF STARAlso on this site: Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living Encyclopedia of History |