How do neutron stars get so small and so heavy?
Quick Answer
They form when the core of a massive star collapses in a supernova and protons and electrons are crushed into neutrons. The result is a city-sized object with about one to two solar masses.
The Full Story
When a massive star’s core collapses, the pressure becomes so extreme that electrons and protons combine into neutrons. The rebound of the collapse and the outgoing shock contribute to a core-collapse supernova, leaving behind a neutron star if the remnant is not massive enough to become a black hole. A typical neutron star packs around 1.4 times the Sun’s mass into a sphere only about 20 kilometers across. Their extreme density, strong magnetic fields, and rapid rotation can produce pulsars, which emit regular beams of radiation. Neutron stars are among the densest known objects in the universe.
Key Facts
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Suggested video title for this topic:
"How a dead star can become a city-sized ultra-dense object"
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