PSR 1829-10
Encyclopedia
PSR B1829-10 is a pulsar
that is approximately 30,000 light-year
s away in the constellation
of Scutum
. This pulsar has been the target of interest, because of a mistaken identification of a planet
around it. Andrew G. Lyne of the University of Manchester
and Bailes claimed in July 1991 to have found "a planet orbiting the neutron star PSR1829-10" but in 1992 retracted. They had failed to correctly take into account the ellipticity of Earth's orbit, and had incorrectly concluded that a planet
with an orbital period of half a year existed around the pulsar.
Pulsar
A pulsar is a highly magnetized, rotating neutron star that emits a beam of electromagnetic radiation. The radiation can only be observed when the beam of emission is pointing towards the Earth. This is called the lighthouse effect and gives rise to the pulsed nature that gives pulsars their name...
that is approximately 30,000 light-year
Light-year
A light-year, also light year or lightyear is a unit of length, equal to just under 10 trillion kilometres...
s away in the constellation
Constellation
In modern astronomy, a constellation is an internationally defined area of the celestial sphere. These areas are grouped around asterisms, patterns formed by prominent stars within apparent proximity to one another on Earth's night sky....
of Scutum
Scutum
Scutum is a small constellation introduced in the seventeenth century. Its name is Latin for shield.-History:Scutum is the only constellation that owes its name to a non-classical historical figure...
. This pulsar has been the target of interest, because of a mistaken identification of a planet
Extrasolar planet
An extrasolar planet, or exoplanet, is a planet outside the Solar System. A total of such planets have been identified as of . It is now known that a substantial fraction of stars have planets, including perhaps half of all Sun-like stars...
around it. Andrew G. Lyne of the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
and Bailes claimed in July 1991 to have found "a planet orbiting the neutron star PSR1829-10" but in 1992 retracted. They had failed to correctly take into account the ellipticity of Earth's orbit, and had incorrectly concluded that a planet
Pulsar planet
Pulsar planets are planets that are found orbiting pulsars, or rapidly rotating neutron stars. The first such planet to be discovered was around a millisecond pulsar and was the first extrasolar planet to be confirmed as discovered.-Pulsar planets:...
with an orbital period of half a year existed around the pulsar.