PSR J0437-4715

PSR J0437-4715 is a nearby, rotating neutron star known as a pulsar, located about 500 light-years away in our galaxy. It emits regular beams of radio waves due to its strong magnetic field, which we detect as precise pulsations. This pulsar spins extremely fast—about 5.76 times per second—and has a companion star, making it part of a binary system. Because its signals are so regular, astronomers use PSR J0437-4715 as a cosmic clock to study gravity, test theories of physics, and understand the properties of neutron stars and their environments.