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What is a pulsar?

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Quick answer

A pulsar is a rapidly spinning neutron star that beams radiation from its magnetic poles. As it spins, the beam sweeps past Earth like a lighthouse, so we detect regular pulses — sometimes hundreds per second — of incredibly precise timing.

Key things to understand

  1. It's a fast-spinning, highly magnetized neutron star.
  2. It emits beams of radiation from its magnetic poles.
  3. As it rotates, the beam sweeps past us, creating pulses.
  4. The pulses are astonishingly regular, like cosmic clocks.
  5. Some spin hundreds of times per second.

People also ask

Why does a pulsar pulse?
Its radiation beams sweep around as it spins; each time a beam points at Earth we detect a pulse, like a rotating lighthouse.
How regular are pulsar pulses?
Extremely — some rival atomic clocks in precision, which is why pulsars are used to test physics and even for navigation concepts.
Is a pulsar the same as a neutron star?
A pulsar is a neutron star that happens to beam radiation our way as it spins; not all neutron stars appear as pulsars to us.