24 February

The first pulsar was discovered by a graduate student, Jocelyn Bell, on 28 November 1967, then working under the direction of Professor A. Hewish.

This extraterrestrial pulsating radio source was observed at the Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory, Cambridge University, United Kingdom. They were using a special radio telescope - a large array of 2048 aerials.

The discovery of these objects opened new horizons in studies as diverse as degenerate fluids, relativistic gravity and interstellar magnetic fields. Under extraordinary physical conditions, radiation is generated and pulses with a clock-like precision.