Source- This post on Objects in space has been created based on the article “What are neutron stars?” published in “Space.com” on 8 August 2024.
Why in News?
NASA estimates that Milky Way galaxy may contain up to a billion neutron stars.
About Neutron stars
1. Neutron stars are incredibly dense remnants of massive stars that have collapsed under their gravity after exhausting their nuclear fuel.
2. They are the densest stellar objects known, containing about 1.4 times the mass of the sun compressed into a sphere roughly 10 to 20 kilometers in diameter.
3. Neutron stars possess extreme magnetic fields, intense gravity, and can spin rapidly, emitting beams of radiation detectable as pulsars.
About Pulsars
1. Pulsars are a type of neutron star that emits beams of electromagnetic radiation from its poles. As the star rotates, these beams sweep across space creating a pulsing effect when observed from Earth.
2. Pulsars are known for their precise and regular pulsing, making them cosmic timekeepers.
3. All pulsars are neutron stars, but not all neutron stars are pulsars.
About Cepheids
1. Cepheids are a type of variable star that pulsates in brightness due to the expansion and contraction of their outer layers. These stars shine with a luminosity 500 to 30,000 times greater than that of the Sun.
2. These stars, which are hot and massive ranging from five to twenty times the mass of our Sun exhibit radial pulsations that cause variations in both their diameter and temperature.
About Nebulae
A nebula is a giant cloud of dust and gas in space. Some nebulae (more than one nebula) come from the gas and dust thrown out by the explosion of a dying star, such as a supernova.
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