Green Bank Telescope finds new millisecond pulsar.
Astronomers have discovered a new binary millisecond pulsar, PSR J0212+5321, using the Green Bank Telescope. The pulsar belongs to the "redback" subclass and is located relatively nearby. It has a rotation period of about 2.11 milliseconds and is estimated to be located some 3,750 light years away. The collected data suggest that PSR J0212+5321 experiences wide-orbit eclipses, similar to other redbacks, as well as scintillation and dispersion measure delays caused by its interaction with its companion and surroundings. The study also found that the PSR J0212+5321 system has a mass ratio at a level of 0.247, and that it showcases a relatively high X-ray luminosity—one of the highest recorded among redbacks in the pulsar state.