Discussion: Astronomers See a Magnetar Form

[Fraser]

SUMMARY: A team of astronomers were lucky enough to observe the rare event of a neutron star turning into a magnetic object called a magnetar. Ten magnetars have been seen to date, but this object, a transient magnetar, is brand new. A normal neutron star is the rapidly spinning remnant of a star that went supernova; they typically possess a very strong magnetic field. A magnetar is similar, but it has a magnetic field up to 1,000 times as strong as a neutron star. This new discovery could indicate that magnetars are more common in the Universe than previously thought.

What do you think about this story? Post your comments below.

[VanderL]

No matter that we don't know what a neutron star is, what is a magnetar, and how does this trick of a magnetic field 1,000 times stronger than a neutron star's (that will probably be higher than a normal star) work. How is this field generated, and where is the electricity coming from?

[anewton]

One might conclude that magnetars are the normal evalution from star to supernova to neutron star to magnetar. Right? But, what does "transient" mean? Is it in the process of change? Could the energy needed for such changes come from their movement through space? Passing other energy sources ( magnetic, electric, ect. ) Maybe it's just the eventual breakdown or fusing of energy within it self?

[Littlemews]

I think the universe have electricity itself. Such strong magnetic field, I wonder how fast does the planet rotating around them ? And how strong is the Starquake?