A Neutron Star is Spinning Faster Than Anything Else We’ve Ever Seen: 716 Times A Second!
Our universe continues to amaze us with its incredible phenomena, and now, astronomers have discovered a neutron star spinning at an astounding speed: 716 times per second! This sets a new record for the fastest-spinning cosmic body ever observed, rivaled only by another neutron star named PSR J1748–2446, which also spins at an incredible 716 revolutions per second.
Discover the details about this phenomenal cosmic speed demon below:
The Patient Pursuit for Dusty Depths: How Scientists Made the Discovery
This neutron star, part of the binary system 4U 1820-30, was initially studied for its thermonuclear explosions. Using NASA’s NICER telescope, mounted on the International Space Station, scientists observed this neutron star between 2017 and 2021. NICER is specialized in pinpointing X-ray emissions, making it perfect for studying these powerful bursts of energy from binary star systems.
Pulsating with Speed: Neutron Star Motion & its Companion
During these observations, scientists discovered something extraordinary: "thermonuclear burst oscillations." These oscillations, linked directly to the neutron star’s spin, revealed it was spinning at a mind-boggling 716 times per second.
Each rotation took a mere 1.4 milliseconds. To put that into perspective, it’s faster than a hummingbird’s wingbeats! Not only is this incredible, but the white dwarf companion in this binary system whips around the neutron star every 11 minutes, making it the fastest orbit in the known universe.
within this system.
