Fastest neutron star ever observed spins at jaw-dropping 716 times per second
SMRTR summary
Astronomers have observed a rapidly spinning neutron star in the X-ray binary system 4U 1820-30, rotating 716 times per second. Detected using NASA's NICER X-ray telescope, the star is 26,000 light years away, measures 12 km across, and has 1.4 times the Sun's mass. Its spin rate was determined by analyzing thermonuclear X-ray bursts from material pulled from its companion white star. This discovery offers valuable data for studying dense stellar remnants.
SMRTR provides this summary for quick context. The original article belongs to Interesting Engineering.
Read the original article