Artist’s impression of the magnetar in the star cluster Westerlund 1
This artist’s impression shows the magnetar in the very rich and young star cluster Westerlund 1. This remarkable cluster contains hundreds of very massive stars, some shining with a brilliance of almost one million suns. European astronomers have for the first time demonstrated that this magnetar — an unusual type of neutron star with an extremely strong magnetic field — probably was formed as part of a binary star system. The discovery of the magnetar’s former companion elsewhere in the cluster helps solve the mystery of how a star that started off so massive could become a magnetar, rather than collapse into a black hole.
Të drejtat:ESO/L. Calçada
Rreth fotografisë
Id: | eso1415a |
Tipi: | Punim artistik |
Data e Publikimit: | Maj 14, 2014, 12:00 CEST |
Publikime të ngjashme: | eso1415 |
Përmasat: | 5000 x 3125 px |
Rreth objektit
Emri: | Westerlund 1 |
Tipi: | Milky Way : Star : Evolutionary Stage : Neutron Star : Magnetar |
Distanca: | 15000 vite dritë |
Kategori: | Illustrations |
Formate Fotografish
Wallpaper