The Vela Pulsar
The Vela Pulsar spins 11.194 times per second, a rhythm that repeats every 89.328 milliseconds. Its parent Type II supernova exploded approximately 11,000–12,300 years ago, leaving the pulsar embedded in the Vela supernova remnant.
Briefing
The Vela Pulsar (PSR J0835–4510, also known as PSR B0833–45) is a pulsar in the constellation Vela, associated with the Vela supernova remnant. It emits across radio, optical, X-ray, and gamma-ray wavelengths, and its parent Type II supernova is described as having been about 800 light-years away.
How we know
This object is known through multi-wavelength observation: it is identified as a pulsar because its emission is detected as repeating pulses, including radio pulses and an optical component that pulses twice for every single radio pulse. The same source describes it as a radio, optical, X-ray, and gamma-emitting object, including being the brightest pulsar in the sky at radio frequencies and the brightest persistent object in the high-energy gamma-ray sky, establishing its character through consistent timing and brightness measurements across different bands.
- Unseen
- Its optical component is given as V = 23.6 mag, placing it beyond naked-eye visibility and outside casual observing.
