Ballistic Helix

  • Released Thursday, February 14th, 2013
  • Updated Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023 at 1:52PM
  • ID: 11185

The Vela pulsar is a rapidly rotating neutron star located about 1,000 light-years from Earth in the Milky Way galaxy. A bright jet of charged particles and electromagnetic radiation, traveling
at nearly three-quarters of the speed of light, shoots from its axis. In 2010, NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory snapped a series of images over a period of four months that showed the pulsar's jet blasting material into space. Using these images, scientists modeled the jet's motion. To their surprise, the movement followed a winding path resembling that of a rotating helix. If their model is accurate, it means the pulsar may be off-balance, wobbling as it spins—a feature never before seen. Watch the video to see a time-lapse view of the pulsar as seen by the Chandra X-ray Observatory.

X-ray images of a pulsar's powerful jet offer hints about its shape and motion.

X-ray images of a pulsar's powerful jet offer hints about its shape and motion.

This video loops eight images of the Vela pulsar taken between Jun. and Sep. 2010.

The Vela pulsar spins faster than a helicopter rotor, and emits a 0.7 light-year-long jet of charged particles.

The Vela pulsar spins faster than a helicopter rotor, and emits a 0.7 light-year-long jet of charged particles.

Models of the jet's path (green line) superimposed on images taken by Chandra show its helix-like motion.

Models of the jet's path (green line) superimposed on images taken by Chandra show its helix-like motion.

As the pulsar rotates rapidly, interactions between its core and crust may lead to an uneven distribution of mass, producing the jet's wobble.

As the pulsar rotates rapidly, interactions between its core and crust may lead to an uneven distribution of mass, producing the jet's wobble.

The Chandra X-ray Observatory is the most sensitive X-ray telescope ever built.

The Chandra X-ray Observatory is the most sensitive X-ray telescope ever built.

For More Information

See NASA.gov

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Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Cover image courtesy of NASA/CXC/M.Weiss
Pulsar video and images courtesy of NASA/CXC/University of Toronto/M. Durant et al.
Chandra image courtesy of NASA/CXC/NGST