Hulse-Taylor Binary

The Hulse-Taylor Binary (PSR B1913+16, PSR J1915+1606, or PSR 1913+16, aka the Hulse-Taylor Pulsar) is a binary star system consisting of a pulsar and another neutron star. It was the first binary pulsar identified, in 1974, and it is well known for the study of its orbital decay that serves as evidence supporting the theory of general relativity (GR) and gravitational waves. Over 30 years, its orbital period has shortened on the order of a millisecond, resulting in a cumulative shift of about 40 seconds in the timing of its orbit (compared to what would have result from a steady orbit). The match with the predictions of GR over the 30 years has been very precise. Pulsar characteristics:

• Aquila - constellation.
• 19h13m12.4655s - right ascension.
• +16deg01m08.189s - declination.
• 21000 ly - distance.
• 1.441 - mass(solar).
• 59 ms - rotation period.
• 7.75 hours - orbital period.