| Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS) |
|
|---|---|
| Constellation | Vulpecula |
| Right ascension | 19h 21m 44.79808s[1] |
| Declination | +21° 53′ 01.8288″[1] |
| Astrometry | |
| Spectral type | Pulsar |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | |
| Distance | 2283.12 Ly |
| Details | |
| Mass | ~ 1.4 M☉ |
| Radius | ~ 1.4 × 10-6 R☉ |
| Luminosity | 0.006 [2] L☉ |
| Temperature | ? K |
| Metallicity | ? |
| Rotation | 1.3373 [3] |
| Age | 1.6 × 107[2] years |
| Other designations | |
PSR B1919+21 is a pulsar with a period of 1.3373 seconds [3] and a pulse width of 0.04 second. It was the first radio pulsar discovered (in July 1967 by Jocelyn Bell Burnell). Its original designation was CP 1919 and it is also known as PSR J1921+2153. It is located in the constellation of Vulpecula.
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Before the nature of the signal was determined, the researchers, Bell and her Ph.D supervisor Antony Hewish, somewhat seriously considered the possibility of extraterrestrial life:
We did not really believe that we had picked up signals from another civilization, but obviously the idea had crossed our minds and we had no proof that it was an entirely natural radio emission. It is an interesting problem - if one thinks one may have detected life elsewhere in the universe how does one announce the results responsibly? Who does one tell first?[4]
The observation was given the half-humorous designation Little green men 1, until researchers Thomas Gold and Fred Hoyle correctly identified these signals as rapidly rotating neutron stars with strong magnetic fields.
When Hewish and Martin Ryle received the Nobel Prize in physics in 1974 for their work in radio-astronomy and pulsars, Hoyle argued that Bell Burnell should have been a co-recipient of the prize.
The British post-punk band Joy Division used an image of CP 1919's radio pulses on the cover of their debut album, Unknown Pleasures.[5]