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Pulsars

A spinning neutron star with a magnetic field on the order of one trillion Gauss. This magnetic field accelerates electrically charged particles along the magnetic poles, forming a beam of energy that shoots into space from the poles. If the beam shines toward Earth, astronomers see a flickering beacon. The most famous pulsar, the Crab Nebula, pulses 30 times a second.

Radio Programs

Terzan 5 A tightly packed star cluster May 20, 2022

Passing the Test Albert Einstein passes another test March 7, 2022

Pulsar Timing Timing the motions of giant black holes February 8, 2022

Extreme Black Widow A dead star destroys its mate June 4, 2021

Cosmic ‘Hum’ Humming along through the universe May 20, 2021

Ancient Planet The life of an ancient planet November 22, 2020

Serendipity “Lucky” astronomical discoveries November 3, 2020

Vulpecula Fox and goose in the night sky September 19, 2020

Heaviest Neutron Star Peeking into the heart of a dead star September 3, 2020

Pulsar Navigation Navigating by dead stars February 13, 2020

Pulsar Searches Searching for cosmic voices February 12, 2020

Crab Pulsar Spinning up a dead star February 11, 2020

Pulsar Planets Planets in the strangest places December 5, 2019

Vulpecula The little fox stands tall September 24, 2019

Galactic Magnet A giant magnet at the heart of the galaxy March 6, 2019

Magnetars A stellar corpse to avoid March 5, 2019

Black Widows Dead stars with dying mates March 4, 2019

Pulsars V Some amazing projects for students December 1, 2017

Pulsars IV Shutting down nature’s clocks November 30, 2017

Pulsars III Timing ripples in space and time November 29, 2017

Pulsars II “Dead” stars that spin like crazy November 28, 2017

Pulsars Discovering a “scruffy” star November 27, 2017

Black Widows Celestial creepy-crawlies July 21, 2017

Featured Images

hubble space telescope view of the globular cluster Terzan 5

Stellar Graveyard May 20, 2022
The Double Pulsar

Double the Fun March 7, 2022
composite image of a "cannonball" pulsar

Fire! April 5, 2019
X-ray views of the magnetar near the center of the galaxy

Galactic magnet March 6, 2019
Planets orbiting the pulsar PSR B1257+12

Second-Chance Planets January 25, 2018
pulsar schematic

Busy Corpse November 27, 2017