We report on two optical candidates for the counterpart to an X-ray source in the SMC , 1WGA J0053.8–7226 , identified as a serendipitous X-ray source from the ROSAT PSPC archive , and also observed by the Einstein IPC .
Its X-ray properties , namely the hard X-ray spectrum , flux variability and column density indicate a hard , transient source , with a luminosity of { \sim } 3.8 \times 10 ^ { 35 } ergs~ { } sec ^ { -1 } . XTE and ASCA observations have confirmed the source to be an X-ray pulsar , with a 46 s spin period .
Our optical observations reveal two possible candidates within the error circle .
Both exhibit strong H \alpha and weaker H \beta emission .
The optical colours indicate that both objects are Be-type stars .
The Be nature of the stars implies that the counterpart is most likely a Be/X-ray binary system .
Subsequent IR photometry ( JHK ) of one of the objects shows the source varies by at least 0.5 mag , while the ( J-K ) measured nearly simultaneously with the UBVRI and spectroscopic observations indicate an IR-excess of { \sim } 0.3 magnitudes .