Irregular X-ray variability in the transient X-ray burst source MXB 1659-29

Irregular variability in the X-ray emission from MXB 1659-29 was observed with SAS 3 during the 1978 transient outburst of the source. No stable period can yet be derived from the low-intensity states, although there is evidence for a quasi-periodicity of either 1.2 or 1.4 hours. The low-intensity states observed in MXB 1659-29 during the transient outburst vary both in width and duration, similar to those in MXB 1916-05. The SAS 3 data are consistent with either the intermittent obscuration of the X-ray emitter by relatively cold gas or with scattering of the X-rays by hotter material.