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AUDIO:
The video illustrates our current understanding of an object
called the bursting pulsar, first discovered in December, 1995.
Observations show the bursting pulsar to consist of a neutron
star spinning with a rotation period of 0.467 seconds. This
rotation is indicated in the video by light pulsing from the
neutron star about twice a second. In addition, bright outbursts
of X-rays and gamma rays occur approximately once every hour.
Lastly, the pulsar orbits around another star with a period of
11.8 days. Observations indicate that the pulsar has a strong
magnetic field. This magnetic field funnels material the magnetic
poles, resulting in radiation pulses at 0.467 second intervals.
VIDEO:
Video shows a neutron star spinning and pulsing with a bright
flash at 0.467 second intervals. Also shown are the magnetic
field lines from the poles. In the background the second star
is shown.
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