A binary pulsar is a type of astronomical object that consists of two stars in a close orbit, one of which is a pulsar. A pulsar is a highly magnetized rotating neutron star that emits beams of electromagnetic radiation, particularly in the radio frequency range, from its magnetic poles. As the star rotates, these beams can sweep across the Earth, producing a regular pulsing effect, similar to that of a lighthouse.
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A binary pulsar is a pulsar in a binary star: the companion's gravity changes the emitting neutron star's motion and hence its pulse arrival times. The companion need not itself be a detectable pulsar. Pulsar timing turns that motion into a measurable orbit, making the system useful for stellar mass determination and tests of general relativity.
