First Double Pulsar Discovered (2003)

Описание: It has long been known that some pulsars exist in systems of two neutron stars orbiting each other, yet a direct observation of both stars in such a system has not existed until now. In late 2003, a team of pulsar astronomers discovered the first double pulsar using the Parkes radio telescope. The binary pulsar allows a number of important measurements to be made, e.g., the masses of the companions were determined to be 1.337+/-0.004 solar masses and 1.251+/-0.004 solar masses - an uncertainty of only 0.3%. Fortunately, the system happens to be seen almost exactly edge-on. This geometry allows a direct observation of the curvature of space-time as light from one pulsar passes near the other one and experiences relativistic effects.

This video simulation shows the two pulsars orbiting around the common center of mass. The faster rotating pulsar spins almost 3000 times a minute while the slower rotating pulsar spins only 22 times a minute. The two pulsars orbit each other once every 2.4 hours.

Credit: John Rowe Animation