Fermi Detected the First Extragalactic Gamma-Ray Pulsar (IMAGE)

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Fermi Detected the First Extragalactic Gamma-Ray Pulsar

Caption

NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has detected the first extragalactic gamma-ray pulsar, PSR J0540-6919, near the Tarantula Nebula (top center) star-forming region in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy that orbits our own Milky Way. Fermi detects a second pulsar (right) as well but not its pulses. PSR J0540-6919 now holds the record as the highest-luminosity gamma-ray pulsar. The angular distance between the pulsars corresponds to about half the apparent size of a full moon. Background: An image of the Tarantula Nebula and its surroundings in visible light.

Credit

Credits: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center; background: ESO/R. Fosbury (ST-ECF)

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