Question #11608
1 Answer
Giant, spinning atoms
Explanation:
Neutrons stars form when supergiant stars collapse in on themselves at the end of their lives. Though not as dense as black holes, neutrons stars are very small and very compact, with millions or billions of tons of matter compressed into a single cubic meter.
Neutrons stars are unique for many reasons. Their enormous densities cause atoms in their cores to "melt." The protons and electrons fuse into neutrons, emitting enormous amounts of energy.
This energy is often seen as electromagnetic radiation that is channeled through the two poles of the star. These stars with consistent radiation emissions are called pulsars and are some of the best time-keeping methods in the universe. Their rotations are fast and very regular, plus their radio signals are easy to detect.
Neutrons stars also have enormous magnetic fields. If our Sun were replaced with a neutron star, all pieces of metal in the inner solar system would be rapidly flung inwards towards the star.
Astronomers use neutron stars as "waypoints" in the sky. In the 1970s, golden plates containing information about human life were attached to the Voyager space probes. These plates showed the location of Earth relative to the nearest 40 pulsars. We believed that the properties of neutron stars would make them excellent navigation tools for an advanced alien civilization.
