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Exploding Neutron Star

Posted by michael on from the interstellar-war dept.

Mick Ohrberg writes "According to NASA News, scientists at NASA and CITA are watching a neutron star (4U 1820-30, 25,000 light years from Earth) explode. Or rather - watch an explosion happen just a few miles above the surface of this immensely dense body. What happens is that matter (mostly helium) from a companion star is by the gravity of the neutron star and collected on the surface until a layer is formed and sufficient pressure is generated. This will cause the helium to fuse into carbon and other elements, releasing enormous amounts of energy in the X-ray band. The event was caught using NASA's Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer. More details can be found here."

2 of 35 comments (clear)

  1. That depends... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    matter (mostly helium) from a companion star is by the gravity of the neutron star

    ...on what your definition of 'is' is.

  2. I saw this Before by jameskojiro · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    In an episode of Star Trek The Next Generation.

    Ok, MOD my geek points up now!

    --
    Tsukasa: All I really want, is to be left alone...