Its parent Type II supernova exploded approximately 11,000–12,300 years ago (and was about 800 light-years away).

[10] It also appeared that the glitch process took under five seconds to occur and allowed to estimate physical properties of the pulsar.

[14][9] Careful estimation of the glitch activity and its uncertainty requires statistical tools beyond the simple linear regression.

[19] Neither the pulsar nor either of the associated nebulae should be confused with Vela X-1, an observationally close but unrelated high-mass X-ray binary system.

The emissions of Vela and the pulsar PSR B0329+54 were converted into audible sound by French composer Gérard Grisey and used in the piece Le noir de l'étoile (1989–90).