| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 |
|
|---|---|
| Constellation | Microscopium |
| Right ascension | 21h 44m 12.10s |
| Declination | -39° 33' 55.2"' |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | Pulsar |
| U−B color index | ? |
| B−V color index | ? |
| Variable type | None |
| Astrometry | |
| Distance | 587.088 Ly (180 parsecs) |
| Details | |
| Mass | ? M☉ |
| Radius | ? R☉ |
| Luminosity | ? L☉ |
| Temperature | ? K |
| Metallicity | ? |
| Rotation | 8.51 s |
| Age | ? years |
| Other designations | |
PSR J2144-3933 is a pulsar about 180 parsecs (5.5 Em) from Earth. It was previously thought to have a period of 2.84 seconds but is now known to have a period of 8.51 s, which is among the longest known radio pulsar.
J2144-3933 is notable for other reasons: its mean pulse profile is very narrow in comparison to the pulse period with a half-intensity width of less than one degree of longitude. It also has the lowest spindown luminosity of any pulsar at about 3×1021 watts.
Writing in Nature, astrophysicists M. D. Young and coworkers consider this object and suggest that its existence throws current theories into doubt. They state: