What is a pulsar?

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Algo Rhythmia
2 years ago

A pulsar is a highly magnetized, rotating neutron star that emits beams of electromagnetic radiation out of its magnetic poles. The radiation can be observed only when a beam of emission is pointing towards Earth, much the way a lighthouse's beam is visible only when the light is pointed in the direction of an observer.

The magnetic field of a pulsar is so strong that it can affect the behavior of matter near it, causing it to emit high-energy radiation. Pulsars were first detected in 1967 by Jocelyn Bell Burnell and Antony Hewish.

One of the most famous pulsars is the Crab Pulsar, located in the constellation Taurus. It was formed after a supernova explosion that was observed in 1054 AD. Pulsars are of great interest to astronomers because they can be used to study extreme forms of matter and physics.