PSR B1919+21 PSR B1919+21 is a pulsar with a period of 1.337 seconds and a pulse width of 0.04 second . It is notable for being the first radio pulsar ever discovered ( in July 1967 by Jocelyn Bell Burnell ) . Its original designation was CP 1919 . Before the nature of the signal was determined , the researchers , Bell and her Ph.D supervisor Anthony Hewish , somewhat seriously considered the possibility of extraterrestrial life , `` We did not really believe that we had picked up signals from another civilization , but obviously the idea had crossed our minds and we had no proof that it was an entirely natural radio emission . It is an interesting problem - if one thinks one may have detected life elsewhere in the universe how does one announce the results responsibly ? Who does one tell first ? `` . The observation was given the half-humorous designation Little green men 1 , until researchers Thomas Gold and Fred Hoyle correctly identified these signals as rapidly rotating neutron stars with strong magnetic fields . Controversially , Hewish received the Nobel Prize in physics in 1974 for the discovery , and it was argued Burnell should also have received the prize . The British post-punk band Joy Division used an image of CP 1919 's radio pulses on the cover of their debut album , Unknown Pleasures . Publication A. Hewish , S. J. Bell , J. D. H. Pilkington , P. F. Scott , and R. A. Collins . Observation of a rapidly pulsating radio source. ( Nature 217 : 709-713 , 1968 ) . See also LGM-1 External links The discovery http : //www.edwardsly.com/bellburs.htm 1977 Speech by Bell Burnell about the discovery  This variable star –related article is a stub . You can help Wikipedia by expanding it . Categories : Variable star stubs | Rotation-powered pulsars | Vulpecula constellation In other languages : Deutsch 