ESA - Space Science - Integral points to the fastest spinning neutron star

Space Science

About Space Science ESA's 'Cosmic Vision'Science & Technology in-depth

Multimedia

Science images Science videos Animations Downloads Sounds from space RSS feeds

Media centre

Press Releases Press kits ESA Television

Resources

Reference section Glossary FAQs

Science missions

Services

Help Legal disclaimer Comments Subscribe

Article Images

Integral points to the fastest spinning neutron star

16 February 2007

Back to article

Download:

HI-RES JPEG (Size: 547 kb)

HI-RES TIFF (Size: 16 415 kb)

This artist's impression shows a spinning neutron star (pulsar) approximately 10 kilometres in diameter. When a neutron star orbits another star, its strong gravitational field can pull gas from the other star. This coats the surface of the neutron star. When the coating reaches a height of between 5-10 metres, the gas ignites in a thermonuclear explosion. This massive release of energy generally lasts from between several seconds to several minutes and a burst of X-rays is released.

Credits: NASA/Dana Berry

ESA's gamma-ray astronomy mission

More about...

Integral factsheet

Star eats companion Integral sees the Galactic centre playing hide and seek Integral catches a new erupting black hole ESA steps towards a great black hole census Where are the supermassive black holes hiding?Integral sees a GRB out of the corner of its eye Integral catches stellar 'corpses' by the tail Exceptional manoeuvres enable unique Integral science Integral identifies supernova rate for Milky Way Integral: three years of insight into the violent cosmos