SXP 1062 is an example of which type of astronomical object?

SXP 1062 is classified as a pulsar located in the Small Magellanic Cloud, which is a dwarf galaxy near the Milky Way. Pulsars are highly magnetized, rotating neutron stars that emit beams of electromagnetic radiation out of their magnetic poles. As the pulsar rotates, these beams sweep across space, and if they are aligned with Earth, they are detected as regular pulses of radiation, hence the name "pulsar."

SXP 1062 is particularly interesting because it is a Be-type pulsar, which means it is associated with a companion star that is part of a binary system. The pulsar's radiation is influenced by the material that is being transferred from the companion star, leading to variations in its luminosity and periodicity. Its existence and behavior offer insights into the processes of star evolution and the dynamics of binary star systems.

In contrast, a binary star system generally refers to two stars orbiting one another, without the specific characteristics of pulsars. A supernova remnant is the remains of a star that has exploded in a supernova event, while a variable star exhibits changes in brightness for various reasons, not specifically linked to the pulsar's distinct pulsating nature.