starquake
Stellar crust rupture
A starquake is a sudden, violent shift in the crust of a neutron star, analogous to an earthquake but vastly more powerful.
The star's intense gravity creates a rigid crystalline surface that occasionally fractures and readjusts, releasing enormous bursts of energy detectable as gamma rays or X-rays across the galaxy.
Hard outer layer
- magnetarNeutron star, intense field
- pulsarMagnetized rotating neutron emitter
- supernova remnantMaterial ejected by dying star
- compactnessState of being compressed
density · lattice · massive · binary system · accretion · superfluidity
Minor system fault
- tremorInvoluntary rhythmic shaking
- ruptureViolent tearing apart
- fractureSplit in hard material
- shockwavePropagating pressure disturbance
magnitude · vibration · aftershock · slippage · displacement · elasticity · stress · strain
Propagating curvature in spacetime
- observatoryFacility for celestial study
- telescopeInstrument magnifying faraway objects
- X-rayPenetrating diagnostic beam
- gamma-rayHighest-energy electromagnetic wave
radio waves · signal · transient · spectrograph · detector · emission · observation · astrophysics
Acceleration to operational state
Force zone around magnets
- fluxContinuous change or flow
- magnetosphereCelestial body's protective field
- burstBreak apart suddenly
- flareSudden bright burst
crust
Hard outer layer
- magnetarNeutron star, intense field
- pulsarMagnetized rotating neutron emitter
- supernova remnantMaterial ejected by dying star
compactness · density · lattice · massive · binary system · accretion · superfluidity
glitch
Minor system fault
shockwave · magnitude · vibration · aftershock · slippage · displacement · elasticity · stress · strain · cracking
gravitational waves
Propagating curvature in spacetime
- observatoryFacility for celestial study
- telescopeInstrument magnifying faraway objects
- X-rayPenetrating diagnostic beam
gamma-ray · radio waves · signal · transient · spectrograph · detector · emission · observation · astrophysics · data
spin-up
Acceleration to operational state
magnetic field
Force zone around magnets
- fluxContinuous change or flow
- magnetosphereCelestial body's protective field
- burstBreak apart suddenly
flare · magnetic energy · outburst · electromagnetic · polarity
- celestial eventssolar eclipse, lunar eclipse, meteor shower, eclipse, supernova
- seismic activitytremor, aftershock, foreshock, mainshock, temblor
- Pulsarspulsar, magnetar