• Question: When you find a new pulsar or neutron star, how does it get named? Also, do you collaborate with other scientists doing a similar job to find out if a pulsar has already been discovered and to compare findings with them?

    Asked by 08jvale to Evan on 20 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Evan Keane

      Evan Keane answered on 20 Jun 2011:

      I wish I could name it! But I can’t – it gets a boring name. For example, one of the neutron stars I found is called PSR J1840-1419. I’ll explain what it is … the PSR is just what we use for pulsars. The 1840 means that this pulsar is at its highest point in the sky at a time of 18:40 in a particular time zone used by astronomers. The J tells which time zone to use. The -1419 means that if you were at a latitude of about -14, 14 degrees below the equator (like in Peru for example) the pulsar would be straight up above your head. So it kind of makes sense. But sometimes I do give them nicknames for myself! Heehee!

      You’re exactly right about collaborating with other scientists. There are many people hunting for pulsars so we communicate a lot to make sure we don’t waste time re-discovering the same things.

      😀

Comments

  • Photo: 08jvale

    08jvale commented on :

    Ok thanks 😀 Do pulsars look any different from the common type of star? Seeing as they were created from a supernova then I thought that they might have some different features?

    • Photo: Evan

      Evan commented on :

      Well they are not very bright in optical or infrared light, so hard to see with your eyes. But in radio, X-ray and gamma-ray vision they are super bright. You are right though about the supernova explosion – the parts of the star that get exploded out can look really cool – my favourite is the Crab