HST observations rule out the association between Cir X-1 and SNR G321.9-0.3

Cir X-1 is one of the most intriguing galactic X-ray sources. It is a similar to16.6 days variable X/radio source, a type-I X-ray burster and a QPO emitter. In spite of an uncertain optical counterpart classification, all these properties identify the source as an LMXB. The morphology of the surrounding radio nebula has suggested an association with the nearby (similar to25 arcmin) SNR G321.9-0.3, implying that Cir X-1 is a runaway binary originated from the supernova explosion approximate to10(5) years ago. To investigate this hypothesis, we carried out a proper motion measurement of the Cir X-1 msimilar to19 optical counterpart using a set of HST/WFC and WFPC2 observations taken similar to8.6 years apart. We obtained a 3sigma upper limit of approximate to5 mas yr(-1) on the source proper motion. Since the runaway hypothesis would have implied a proper motion due North ranging between 15 and 75 mas yr(-1), depending on the actual age of the SNR, our result definitively rules out the association between Cir X-1 and SNR G321.9-0.3.