PSR J0737−3039, the first known binary system consisting of two pulsars

There are very strange objects in the universe, due to their rarity, and among them is a binary system formed by two pulsars.

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That system, known as PSR J0737−3039, was discovered in 2003 by astronomer Marta Burgay's team from the Parkes Observatory in New South Wales, Australia. That system, 1,630 light-years from the Solar System, was the first known to consist of two pulsars, called PSR J0737−3039A and PSR J0737−3039B. Pulsars are rapidly spinning neutron stars that generate strong emissions of electromagnetic radiation from their poles. A pulsar is a very rare object compared to others: only 3,200 are known, and a second double pulsar (PSR J1913+1102) was not discovered until 2020.

About this very strange binary system, which tests Einstein's theory of general relativity by allowing its behavior to be examined over very short periods of time, the YouTube channel Kosmo has published a video with excellent graphic quality showing what PSR J0737−3039 is like and also talking about neutron stars (if it doesn't load automatically, you can enable the English audio track in the bottom bar of the player):

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Imágenes: Kosmo.