The Vela pulsar (PSR B0833-45) proper motion revisited with HST astrometry

Abstract

Using all the HST WFC/WFPC2 images of the field collected so far, we have performed an accurate relative astrometry analysis to re-assess the value of the Vela pulsar proper motion. Although covering a much shorter time span, our measurement clearly confirms the previous result obtained by Nasuti et al. (1997) using ground-based optical data and nails down the proper motion value to mu = 52+/-3 mas yr^-1. Based on observations with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by AURA, Inc. under contract No NAS 5-26555