Map of the Universe
PSR J0437-4715
Pulsar · Pulsar in the constellation Pictor
About PSR J0437-4715
PSR J0437-4715 is about 511 light-years from the Sun, so the light we see from it left about 511 years ago.
It is 27,108 light-years from the centre of the Milky Way.
The map lists it as a pulsar and shows it among the stars around the Sun, drawn on the plane of the Milky Way.
The nearest millisecond pulsar.
Key numbers
| Distance | 511 light-years (157 pc) |
|---|---|
| Distance from the Galactic centre | 27,108 light-years |
| Galactic coordinates | l = 253.39°, b = -41.96° |
| Spin period | 5.76 ms |
| Distance method | independent (parallax or association) |
Data: ATNF Pulsar Catalogue v2.9.0.
Where it is
Its place in the universe, from the inside out: Orion–Cygnus Arm (Local Arm) › Milky Way › Local Group › Virgo Supercluster › Laniakea Supercluster › Observable universe.
Zoom out to see it in context: 1,000 light-years, a view about 2,400 light-years across.
From Wikipedia
PSR J0437−4715 is a pulsar. Discovered in the Parkes 70 cm survey, it remains the closest and brightest millisecond pulsar (MSP) known. The pulsar rotates about its axis 173.68 times per second and therefore completes a rotation every 5.7574 milliseconds.
Excerpt from the Wikipedia article PSR J0437−4715, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.