PSR B0950+08 is a young
pulsar
A pulsar (from ''pulsating radio source'') is a highly magnetized rotating neutron star that emits beams of electromagnetic radiation out of its magnetic poles. This radiation can be observed only when a beam of emission is pointing toward Ea ...
that may have come from a
supernova
A supernova is a powerful and luminous explosion of a star. It has the plural form supernovae or supernovas, and is abbreviated SN or SNe. This transient astronomical event occurs during the last evolutionary stages of a massive star or when ...
that occurred in
Leo 1.8 million years ago. The large and old
remnant
Remnant or remnants may refer to:
Religion
* Remnant (Bible), a recurring theme in the Bible
* Remnant (Seventh-day Adventist belief), the remnant theme in the Seventh-day Adventist Church
* ''The Remnant'' (newspaper), a traditional Catholic ne ...
of this supernova, located in the constellation of
Antlia
Antlia (; from Ancient Greek ''ἀντλία'') is a constellation in the Southern Celestial Hemisphere. Its name means " pump" in Latin and Greek; it represents an air pump. Originally Antlia Pneumatica, the constellation was established by N ...
, may be the nearest besides the
Local Bubble, and the supernova would have been as bright as the moon. Off-pulse emissions from the young pulsar were detected by the
Expanded Long Wavelength Array, suggesting the presence of a pulsar wind nebula around it.
External links
''The Astrophysical Journal Letters'', vol. 576, p. L41, August 2002''New Scientist'', August 24, 2002
Image PSR B0950+08
References
Pulsars
Leo (constellation)
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