Watch the lonely star outside the Milky Way Galaxy
NASA astronomers for the first time have discovered a neutron star outside the Milky Way galaxy.
"Neutron stars are the ultra-dense cores of massive stars that collapse and undergo a supernova explosion," NASA explained on their website.
"This newly identified neutron star is a rare variety that has both a low magnetic field and no stellar companion," it said.
A stunning image was captured by the European Souther Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile and the NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory.
Scientists evaluating and analysing the images collected from the telescope assume that it is a neutron star produced by a supernova explosion about two millennium ago.
In past, ten similar objects have been discovered by astronomers before. However, this is the first time ever that a neutron star was detected outside Earth’s galaxy.
Jocelyn Bell, a British astrophysicist discovered the first neutron star around 50 years ago.
Now, NASA is set to launch a new mission to get insights about neutron stars.
"The agency plans to launch the two-in-one Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer, or NICER, aboard SpaceX CRS-11, a cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station to be launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket," NASA said in a statement.
"The mission will focus especially on pulsars — those neutron stars that appear to wink on and off because their spin sweeps beams of radiation past us, like a cosmic lighthouse," NASA stated.
The spacecraft will be powered by 56 X-ray mirrors that will help in gathering data.
What are Neutron Stars?"Neutron stars are the ultra-dense cores of massive stars that collapse and undergo a supernova explosion," according to NASA.Nearly five decades ago, Jocelyn Bell, a British astrophysicist, first discovered these spinning neutron stars.
For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
More from Science
Maternally blessed at the age of 45 years after being childless for 16 years
ISRO congratulates NASA and SpaceX for their "historic" manned mission
Four Indian cosmonauts resume training in Russia for Gaganyaan mission
17 pc decline in global carbon emissions due to COVID-19 lockdown: Study
Good News: NASA develops high-pressure ventilator to fight COVID-19