HST revisits the proper motion of PSR B0656+14

Abstract

We report the first successful measurement (with HST/WFPC2) of a significant proper motion for a V~ 25 object which we had proposed as the optical counterpart of the radio pulsar PSR B0656+14. The yearly displacement of 43+/- 2 mas is highly significant and, while in agreement with early, rougher, radio measurements, stands out for its vastly improved accuracy. Together with the report of a possible optical pulsation (Shearer et al. 1998), we regard this result as the final proof of the optical identification of PSR B0656+14.