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Star eats companion

6 September 2005

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This is an artist's impression of a spinning neutron star (pulsar) approximately 20 kilometres in diameter, accreting material from a companion star. The strong gravity from the dense pulsar attracts material from the companion. The flow of gas from the companion to the pulsar is energetic and glows in X-ray light.

Credits: NASA/Dana Berry

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This animation depicts a pulsar, approximately 20 kilometres in diameter, accreting material from a companion star. The strong gravity from the dense pulsar attracts material from the companion. The flow of gas from the companion to the pulsar is energetic and glows in X-ray light. The angular momentum of the accretion causes the pulsar to spin faster and faster. Eventually the pulsar accretes the entire star and is left as a fast-spinning isolated pulsar.

Credits: NASA/Dana Berry

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Integral, ESA's International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory, is gathering some of the most energetic radiation that comes from space. The spacecraft was launched in October 2002 and is helping to solve some of the biggest mysteries in astronomy.

Gamma rays are even more powerful than the X-rays used in medical examinations. Fortunately, Earth's atmosphere acts as a shield to protect us from this dangerous cosmic radiation. However this means that gamma rays from space can only be detected by satellites.

At time of launch, Integral was the most sensitive gamma-ray observatory ever put into space. It detects radiation from the most violent events far away and from processes that made the Universe habitable.

Credits: ESA

ESA's gamma-ray astronomy mission

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Integral factsheet

Observations: Seeing in the gamma-ray wavelengths Observations: Seeing in X-ray wavelengths Observations: Seeing in microwave wavelengths Three satellites needed to bring out ‘shy star’A gamma-ray burst bonanza Integral's first look at the gamma-ray Universe Integral – tracking extreme radiation across the Universe