PSR B1937+21

PSR B1937+21 is a millisecond pulsar in Vulpecula, discovered in 1982. It rotates every 1.56 milliseconds, making it the first millisecond pulsar discovered.

Neutron star: A compact stellar remnant composed mainly of densely packed neutrons, formed in some supernova explosions. This pulsar's extreme density and compactness enable its rapid rotation and strong magnetic field.
Dale Frail: An American radio astronomer known for research on pulsars, gamma-ray bursts, and compact stellar objects. Frail was part of the team that discovered PSR B1937+21.
Pulsar timing array: A set of precisely timed pulsars used to detect correlated variations caused by low-frequency gravitational waves. PSR B1937+21 is among the pulsars timed in searches for a gravitational-wave background.
PSR J1748−2446ad: A millisecond pulsar in the globular cluster Terzan 5 that rotates about 716 times per second. Its faster rotation surpassed PSR B1937+21's record decades after the latter's discovery.
Millisecond pulsar: A pulsar that rotates hundreds of times per second, generally spun up by accreting matter from a companion star. PSR B1937+21 was the first known example of this rapidly rotating pulsar class.
Donald C. Backer: An American radio astronomer who co-discovered the first millisecond pulsar, PSR B1937+21. Backer led the discovery team that identified its 1.56-millisecond periodicity.
Gravitational wave: A ripple in spacetime produced by accelerating masses and propagated at the speed of light. Gravitational waves can alter the pulse arrival times measured from this pulsar.
Crab Pulsar: A young pulsar in the Crab Nebula that rotates about 30 times per second and powers a bright nebula. Its much slower spin illustrates the contrast between young pulsars and recycled millisecond pulsars.
Radio astronomy: The study of celestial objects through radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation. Radio observations revealed its periodic pulses and enable precise tracking of its rotation.
Shri Kulkarni: An Indian-American astronomer whose research includes pulsars, gamma-ray bursts, and transient astronomical sources. Kulkarni contributed to the discovery and early study of PSR B1937+21.

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