neutron star
Supernova's dense corpse
A neutron star is the collapsed core of a massive star that has exhausted its nuclear fuel and exploded as a supernova.
The remaining matter compresses so densely that protons and electrons merge into neutrons—a teaspoon would weigh billions of tons.
Neutron stars spin rapidly and emit beams of radiation; those whose beams sweep past Earth appear as pulsars.
Exploding massive star
- progenitorAncestor or originator
- gravitational collapseInward fall from gravity
- explosionViolent burst of energy
- shockwavePropagating pressure disturbance
ejecta · nucleosynthesis · heavy elements · hypernova · supergiant · iron core · rebound · implosion
Hard outer layer
- coreCentral essential portion
- outer coreMolten planetary layer generating magnetism
- inner coreCentermost solid sphere
- envelopeFolded paper enclosure
lattice · spaghetti · lasagna · gnocchi · mantle · stratification · phase transition
Distortion of dimensional fabric
- relativisticConcerning high-speed physics
- tidal forcesDifferential gravitational pull across bodies
- escape velocitySpeed to overcome gravity
- Schwarzschild radiusBlack hole's critical boundary distance
gravitational waves · merger · binary system · gravitational lensing · compactness · general relativity
Turning on an axis
- beamsRays or supports
- magnetosphereCelestial body's protective field
- timingArt of choosing moments
- glitchMinor system fault
Degenerate nuclear matter
- incompressibleCannot be made smaller
- nucleonsProtons or neutrons
- strong forceSubatomic binding interaction
- superfluidityQuantum state, zero viscosity
teaspoon · compactness · stiffness · hadron · baryon
Force zone around magnets
- magnetosphereCelestial body's protective field
- starquakeSeismic event on collapsed stellar remnants
- flareSudden bright burst
supernova
Exploding massive star
- progenitorAncestor or originator
- gravitational collapseInward fall from gravity
- explosionViolent burst of energy
shockwave · ejecta · nucleosynthesis · heavy elements · hypernova · supergiant · iron core · rebound · implosion
crust
Hard outer layer
- coreCentral essential portion
- outer coreMolten planetary layer generating magnetism
- inner coreCentermost solid sphere
envelope · lattice · spaghetti · lasagna · gnocchi · mantle · stratification · phase transition
spacetime curvature
Distortion of dimensional fabric
- relativisticConcerning high-speed physics
- tidal forcesDifferential gravitational pull across bodies
- escape velocitySpeed to overcome gravity
Schwarzschild radius · gravitational waves · merger · binary system · gravitational lensing · compactness · general relativity
rotation
Turning on an axis
- beamsRays or supports
- magnetosphereCelestial body's protective field
- timingArt of choosing moments
glitch · period · radio waves
neutronium
Degenerate nuclear matter
- incompressibleCannot be made smaller
- nucleonsProtons or neutrons
- strong forceSubatomic binding interaction
superfluidity · teaspoon · compactness · stiffness · hadron · baryon
magnetic field
Force zone around magnets
- magnetosphereCelestial body's protective field
- starquakeSeismic event on collapsed stellar remnants
- flareSudden bright burst
- astrophysicsblack hole, supernova, black holes, pulsar, pulsars
- astronomystars, moon, sun, planet, planets
- cosmosuniverse, galaxies, galaxy, stars, planets
- outer spacesun, moon, planet, solar system, comet
- spacespace, sun, moon, stars, Earth
- gravitygravity, graviton, gravity well, gravitational pull, gravity wave
neutron starred supergiant
Huge, cool, evolved star
red giant · Betelgeuse · supergiant · giant star · protostar