PSR J0737−3039
Artist's impression. The objects are not shown to scale: if they were depicted as the size of marbles, they would be 225 m (750 ft) apart. See also MPEG animation (2.4 MB) | |
| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Puppis |
| Right ascension | 07h 37m 51.248s |
| Declination | −30° 39′ 40.83″ |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | Pulsar |
| Variable type | None |
| Astrometry | |
| Distance | 3200–4500 ly (1150 pc) |
| Orbit | |
| Primary | PSR J0737−3039 A |
| Companion | PSR J0737−3039 B |
| Period (P) | 2.45 h |
| Eccentricity (e) | 0.088 |
| Details | |
| PSR J0737−3039A | |
| Mass | 1.338 M☉ |
| Rotation | 22.699379768624 ms |
| PSR J0737−3039B | |
| Mass | 1.249 M☉ |
| Rotation | 2.7734613626 s |
| Other designations | |
| 2XMM J073751.4−303940 | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
PSR J0737−3039 is the first known double pulsar. It consists of two neutron stars emitting electromagnetic waves in the radio wavelength in a relativistic binary system. The two pulsars are known as PSR J0737−3039A and PSR J0737−3039B. It was discovered in 2003 at Australia's Parkes Observatory by an international team led by the Italian radio astronomer Marta Burgay during a high-latitude pulsar survey.