Vela X-1 in depth: a review article on an outstanding object
Degenaar, N.; Utrilla, E.; Ramos-Lerate, M.; van den Eijnden, J.; Grinberg, V.; Sander, A. A. C.; Kretschmar, P.; Maíz Apellániz, J.; Fuerst, F.; El Mellah, I.; Martínez-Núñez, S.; Jiménez Esteban, F.
Spain, France, Netherlands, Germany, United Kingdom, Belgium
Abstract
The paper - https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2021A%26A...652A..95K/abstract {Revisiting the archetypical wind accretor Vela X-1 in depth}. Case study of a well-known X-ray binary and the limits of our knowledge - provided a thoughtful compilation of the knowledge of the Vela X-1 system and its modelling published over decades; added new information derived from public data or catalogues, including an updated distance and spectral classification based on the Gaia EDR3 release; and identified specific avenues of future research that could help to clarify open questions. This publication triggered a discussion on the editorial board of A&A journal, leading to the creation of a new type of review article on uniquely interesting objects. Acknowledgements: SMN acknowledgements funded by project RTI2018-096686-B-C21 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by "ERDF A way of making Europe".