Very high energy gamma-ray observations of the binary PSR B1259-63/SS2883 around the 2007 Periastron

Aims. This article presents very-high-energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) data from the-ray binary PSRB1259-63 as taken during the years 2005, 2006 and before as well as shortly after the 2007 periastron passage. These data extend the knowledge of the lightcurve of this object to all phases of the 3.4 year binary orbit. The lightcurve constrains physical mechanisms present in this TeV source. Methods. Observations of VHE-rays with the HESS telescope array using the Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Technique were performed. The HESS instrument features an angular resolution of <0.1° and an energy resolution of