First Observations of X‐Ray Binary IC 10 X‐1 in Very‐High‐Energy Gamma‐Rays

ABSTRACT IC 10 X‐1, located in the starburst galaxy IC 10, is a nearby extragalactic X‐ray binary containing a Wolf—Rayet donor and an accreting black hole compact object. Active accretion from the massive Wolf–Rayet star onto the companion black hole is considered a possible source of high‐energy emission produced by the interaction between the black hole and the accretion disk formed by the optical counterpart. The results of the first very‐high‐energy observations of the IC 10 X‐1 system and the IC 10 starburst galaxy with the SHALON telescope are presented. The fluxes of gamma‐ray emission detected from the direction of IC 10 X‐1 binary and the IC 10 starburst galaxy may indicate both active accretion in the massive X‐ray binary and efficient cosmic ray acceleration in the processes of supernova explosions in the starburst galaxy.