Universe
ID: 11895
Astronomers are gearing up for high-energy fireworks coming in early 2018, when a stellar remnant the size of a city meets one of the brightest stars in our galaxy. The cosmic light show will occur when a pulsar discovered by NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope swings by its companion star. Scientists plan a global campaign to watch the event from radio wavelengths to the highest-energy gamma rays detectable.
The pulsar, known as J2032+4127 (J2032 for short), is the crushed core of a massive star that exploded as a supernova. It is a magnetized ball about 12 miles across, or about the size of Washington, weighing almost twice the sun's mass and spinning seven times a second. J2032's rapid spin and strong magnetic field together produce a lighthouse-like beam detectable when it sweeps our way.
The pulsar orbits a massive companion named MT91 213. Classified as a Be star, the companion is 15 times the mass of the sun and shines 10,000 times brighter. Be stars drive strong outflows, called stellar winds, and are embedded in large disks of gas and dust.
Following an elongated orbit lasting about 25 years, the pulsar passes closest to its partner once each circuit. Whipping around its companion in early 2018, the pulsar will plunge through the surrounding disk and trigger astrophysical fireworks. It will serve as a probe to help astronomers measure the massive star's gravity, magnetic field, stellar wind and disk properties.
Read more at http://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/astronomers-predict-fireworks-from-rare-stellar-encounter-in-2018
Astronomers Predict Cosmic Light Show from 2018 Stellar Encounter
The pulsar, known as J2032+4127 (J2032 for short), is the crushed core of a massive star that exploded as a supernova. It is a magnetized ball about 12 miles across, or about the size of Washington, weighing almost twice the sun's mass and spinning seven times a second. J2032's rapid spin and strong magnetic field together produce a lighthouse-like beam detectable when it sweeps our way.
The pulsar orbits a massive companion named MT91 213. Classified as a Be star, the companion is 15 times the mass of the sun and shines 10,000 times brighter. Be stars drive strong outflows, called stellar winds, and are embedded in large disks of gas and dust.
Following an elongated orbit lasting about 25 years, the pulsar passes closest to its partner once each circuit. Whipping around its companion in early 2018, the pulsar will plunge through the surrounding disk and trigger astrophysical fireworks. It will serve as a probe to help astronomers measure the massive star's gravity, magnetic field, stellar wind and disk properties.
Read more at http://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/astronomers-predict-fireworks-from-rare-stellar-encounter-in-2018
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Credits
Scott Wiessinger (USRA): Lead Producer
Walt Feimer (HTSI): Lead Animator
Scott Wiessinger (USRA): Animator
Cruz deWilde (Avant Gravity): Animator
Francis Reddy (Syneren Technologies): Lead Writer
Paul Ray (NRL): Scientist
Scott Wiessinger (USRA): Editor
Chris Meaney (HTSI): Narration
Joy Ng (USRA): Narration
Rob Andreoli (Advocates in Manpower Management, Inc.): Narration
Swarupa Nune (InuTeq): Narration
Walt Feimer (HTSI): Lead Animator
Scott Wiessinger (USRA): Animator
Cruz deWilde (Avant Gravity): Animator
Francis Reddy (Syneren Technologies): Lead Writer
Paul Ray (NRL): Scientist
Scott Wiessinger (USRA): Editor
Chris Meaney (HTSI): Narration
Joy Ng (USRA): Narration
Rob Andreoli (Advocates in Manpower Management, Inc.): Narration
Swarupa Nune (InuTeq): Narration
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. However, individual items should be credited as indicated above.
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. However, individual items should be credited as indicated above.
Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11895
Mission:
Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope
This item is part of these series:
Narrated Movies
Astrophysics Features
Goddard TV Tape:
G2015-051 -- Fermi Binary Pulsar
Keywords:
SVS >> HDTV
SVS >> Neutron Star
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Spectral/Engineering >> Gamma Ray
SVS >> Astrophysics
SVS >> Pulsar
SVS >> Space
SVS >> Binary Star
SVS >> Supernova
SVS >> Star
NASA Science >> Universe
GCMD keywords can be found on the Internet with the following citation: Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Morahan, A. Aleman, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, M. Meaux, S. Grebas, C.Solomon, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, R. Bilodeau, 2013. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11895
Mission:
Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope
This item is part of these series:
Narrated Movies
Astrophysics Features
Goddard TV Tape:
G2015-051 -- Fermi Binary Pulsar
Keywords:
SVS >> HDTV
SVS >> Neutron Star
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Spectral/Engineering >> Gamma Ray
SVS >> Astrophysics
SVS >> Pulsar
SVS >> Space
SVS >> Binary Star
SVS >> Supernova
SVS >> Star
NASA Science >> Universe
GCMD keywords can be found on the Internet with the following citation: Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Morahan, A. Aleman, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, M. Meaux, S. Grebas, C.Solomon, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, R. Bilodeau, 2013. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0
