Neutron Stars

A neutron star is one of the strangest things in space. It is very small, only about the size of a city. But it is also very heavy. A teaspoon of it would weigh billions of tons. It forms when a huge star explodes in a supernova.

Super Small and Super Heavy

When a big star dies, its middle gets squeezed very tight. The pieces inside get packed together. This makes a neutron star. It is so heavy that nothing on Earth is like it.

A simple diagram showing how a giant star collapses to form a neutron star.
A simple diagram showing how a giant star collapses to form a neutron star. (BedrockPerson / Wikimedia Commons)

Spinning Stars

Many neutron stars spin very fast. Some spin hundreds of times a second. They can send out beams of light as they turn. When these beams sweep past Earth, we see quick flashes. These are called pulsars.

Fun Facts

  • A neutron star can spin faster than a blender.
  • Their gravity is billions of times stronger than Earth's.
  • The first pulsar was found in 1967.

Did You Know?

When two neutron stars crash into each other, they can create gold and other metals!