Pulsed X-ray Observations of CEN X-3 from Ariel-5

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Abstract
The 4·8-5 X-ray pulsations from Centaurus X-3 were monitored by the MSSL collimated proportional counter on board Ariel-5 between I975 January 18–27. Analysis of the source Doppler effect shows that the pulsation period of Cen X-3 decreased by 3·70 ± 0·04 ms during the preceding 2·3 yr. The Doppler analysis also yields updated values for the binary phase and period of Cen X-3. Phase zero occurred at JD 2442438·628 ± 0·003 and the average heliocentric binary period between 1972 October and I975 January was 2·087129 ± 0·0000007 days. Light curves of the 4·8-s pulsations in the 3–9 ke V band are characterized by two pronounced peaks, in contrast with the single peak profiles observed by Uhuru.

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