Q
What is a pulsar?
A
Expert Answer
A rapidly rotating neutron star emitting beams of radiation from its magnetic poles. We detect these as regular pulses when the beam sweeps past Earth—like cosmic lighthouses. Some pulsars rotate hundreds of times per second (millisecond pulsars), with precision rivaling atomic clocks.
Key Insight
A rapidly rotating neutron star emitting beams of radiation from its magnetic poles.
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