Further Copernicus X-ray observations of 3U 1700-37

The 1975 and 1976 Copernicus observations of 3U 1700-37 confirm the high variability of the X-ray flux and the enhancement of the low energy absorption in the spectrum towards the ingress into the X-ray eclipse. The latter suggests an asymmetric distribution of matter around the primary star with respect to the line of mass centres of the binary. The duration of the eclipse of 3U 1700-37 is confirmed to be shorter than that determined with the Uhuru data and the range of values for the mass of the compact component of the system is discussed. A more precise value of the orbital period is determined (P = 3.41180 +- 0.00003 day), exactly coincident in length and phase with the most recent photometric result. (author)