Black Widow Pulsar
Also known as PSR J1959+2048
Black Widow Pulsar is a pulsar star in the constellation Sagitta, about 2,750 light-years from Earth.
Millisecond pulsar slowly evaporating its companion, in Sagitta
Facts
| Type | Pulsar star (spectral type G:) |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Sagitta |
| Position (J2000) | 19h 59m 36s, +20° 48′ |
| Distance | 2,750 light-years (its light set off about 2,750 years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 20.16 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Studied in | 863 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
Black Widow Pulsar is highest in the sky at midnight in July. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 89° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 61°. To see it you need a large telescope or long-exposure photos.
Heights are worked out for India and for 50° N. Set your location in Settings to see them for where you are.
For tonight's best time from your own town, the darkness and the Moon, open it on the map and see its "Tonight from your location" card.
More in Sagitta
Everything in Sagitta · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · Data sources & credits