Comment on "A noninteracting low-mass black hole-giant star binary system".

van den Heuvel, Ed P J; Tauris, Thomas M · Science · 2020

editorial · Level V

Where this comes from

Abstract

Thompson <i>et al</i> (Reports, 1 November 2019, p. 637) interpreted the unseen companion of the red giant star 2MASS J05215658+4359220 as most likely a black hole. We argue that if the red giant's mass is ~1 solar mass, its companion can be a close binary consisting of two main-sequence stars. This would explain why no x-ray emission is detected from the system.