The Vela pulsar 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 the proper motion value to mu = 52 +/- 3 mas/yr.

4 pages, LaTex, 2 Postscript figures. Accepted for publication in Astronomy&Astrophysics