Vela X-1 as seen from Earth, with an orbital inclination (i > 73°) compatible with the known constraints (with parameters from Kreykenbohm et al. 2008). The black points represent the positions of the neutron star at specific phases (with origin at the mid-eclipse time). The red line is the main axis of the eccentric orbit. Owing to the eccentricity, inferior conjunction of the neutron star occurs between ϕ_orb = 0.4 and ϕ_orb = 0.5. The accretion wake trailing the neutron star is represented at a fiducial orbital phase ϕ_orb = 0.6.