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neutron

  • In the lower left is SN 1994D, a supernova within its host galaxy NGC 4526. (NASA, Wikimedia Commons)
    Serving Up Nuclear Pasta
    Walker Rhea
    Neutron stars can form when a giant star goes supernova. During a supernova, the star’s core collapses, and the remaining protons and electrons get squeezed together so tightly that their nuclei touch.
  • Most neutron stars are a mere 15 miles in diameter. That makes them about the size of a moderate city. (NASA)
    The Star That's Almost Too Massive To Exist
    Walker Rhea
    When a star burns through most of its nuclear material, it can explode in a bright supernove and leave behind a dense core. If that core is massive enough, it'll become a neutron star.