+ Visit NASA.gov + Advanced Search   + About the Server   + Animation List   + How to Use the Server Previous Animation Next Animation Millisecond Pulsar with Magnetic Field Structure A pulsar is generally believed to be a rapidly rotating neutron star that emits pulses of radiation (such as x-rays and radio waves) at known regular intervals. A millisecond pulsar is one with a rotational period in the range of 1-10 milliseconds. When a pulsar is created in a supernova, is is born spinning, but slows down over millions of years. However, if the pulsar is in a binary system, the influx of material into its accretion disk may help the pulsar spin up to the millisecond range.    This animation zooms into a black hole and its accretion disk to show a millisecond pulsar in close-up. Duration: 24.0 seconds Available formats:   512x288 (30 fps) MPEG-1   16 MB   1280x720 (30 fps) MPEG-2   99 MB   1280x720 (30 fps) QUICKTIME 63 MB   1280x720 (60 fps) MPEG-4   18 MB   1280 x 720   Frames   320 x 180     PNG           267 KB   160 x 80       PNG           64 KB   80 x 40         PNG           17 KB How to play our movies Animation Number: 10144 Animator: Dana Berry (Lead) Studio: CI Lab Completed: 2004-06-01 Writer: Mike McClare (HTSI) Goddard TV Tape: G2007-007HD Keywords: SVS >> HDTV SVS >> Neutron Star SVS >> Astrophysics SVS >> Pulsar     Please give credit for this visualization to NASA Back to Top + Privacy Policy and Important Notices + Reproduction Guidelines NASA Official: Content Contact: Curator: