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Published August 12, 1993 | public
Journal Article

Questions of evolution

Abstract

The discovery of the first millisecond pulsar 11 years ago revitalized pulsar astronomy and led to a number of large-scale, continuing surveys that have so far discovered at least 16 other fast pulsars in the galactic disk. On page 603 of this issue, Bell, Bailes and Bessell now report the discovery of the probable companion star to the pulsar J0437-4715. At a distance of about 140 parsecs, PSR J0437-4715 is not only our nearest millisecond pulsar but possibly even our nearest radio pulsar, and is, like most millisecond pulsars, in a binary system. The discovery of the companion star provides an independent estimate of the age of the pulsar, which can also be deduced from the rate of slowing of the pulsar.

Additional Information

© 1993 Nature Publishing Group.

Additional details

Created:
August 22, 2023
Modified:
October 23, 2023