A pulsar (pulsating star, on the model of quasar) [1] is a highly magnetized rotating neutron star that emits beams of electromagnetic radiation out of its magnetic poles. [2]

Jan 24, 2023 · Pulsars are 'cosmic lighthouses' that when seen from Earth appear to be flickering stars, but actually consist of exotic stellar remnants called neutron stars.

Jul 15, 2022 · Bottom line: A pulsar is a neutron star with its poles aimed toward Earth so that we can see pulses of light resulting from the star’s strong emission when it’s rapidly spinning.

Pulsars are rapidly spinning neutron stars, extremely dense stars composed almost entirely of neutrons and having a diameter of only 20 km (12 miles) or less. Pulsar masses range between 1.18 and 1.97 times that of the Sun, but most pulsars have a mass 1.35 times that of the Sun.

Stellar pulsations are caused by expansions and contractions in the outer layers as a star seeks to maintain equilibrium. These fluctuations in stellar radius cause corresponding changes in the luminosity of the star. Astronomers are able to deduce this mechanism by measuring the spectrum and observing the Doppler effect. [1] .

May 24, 2022 · A pulsar is a special kind of neutron star, which is the ultra-dense leftover core of a massive star. Pulsars emit beams of radiation that sweep out in circles as the pulsar spins. …

Aug 17, 2020 · Pulsars are a type of neutron star. They appear to blink similarly to a lighthouse. They appear to flicker because they spin very fast, and emit accelerated particles through their …

From the Earth, a pulsar looks like a star that has a pulse, a rapid beat picked up only by radio telescopes. Discoverers Jocelyn Bell and Antony Hewish noticed that these beats were so …

Sep 23, 2024 · Pulsars are rapidly rotating neutron stars that blast out pulses of radiation at regular intervals ranging from seconds to milliseconds. Pulsars have very strong magnetic …

Formed during the deaths of massive stars, pulsars rotate at incredible speeds, emitting focused beams of radiation that sweep across the universe. Their clockwork-like pulses are a window into unique physics and extreme stellar environments.