X‐ray Observations of PSR B1259‐63 2007 Periastron Passage

PSR B1259‐63 is a 48 ms radio pulsar in a highly eccentric 3.4 year orbit with a Be star SS 2883. Unpulsed γ‐ray, X‐ray and radio emission is observed from the binary system and the collision of the pulsar wind with the anisotropic wind of the Be star plays a crucial role in the generation of the observed emission. The 2007 periastron passage was observed in unprecedented details with Suzaku, Swift, XMM‐Newton and Chandra missions. We present here the results of this campaign, compare them with previous observations and discuss the physical implications.