Supergiant Shoots Matter at Neutron Star, Flare Ensues
Wednesday, June 29, 2011 - 08:30
in Astronomy & Space
Gas from a supergiant star was swallowed into a neighboring neutron star's gravity field, superheating the gas and producing a flare lasting 4 hours. XMM-Newton space observatory witnessed the IGR J18410-0535 system event. (Video: art. impression)