Pulsars are rapidly rotating neutron stars that emit beams of electromagnetic radiation out of their magnetic poles. As the star rotates, these beams sweep across the sky, and when one points toward Earth, it can be detected as pulses of radio waves and, in some cases, X-rays or visible light.

Solved

What Is a Pulsar

Question 180

Multiple Choice

What is a pulsar?

A) very hot material orbiting a black hole
B) Cepheid variable star with a period of a few days
C) pulsating white dwarf star, fluctuating rapidly in brightness
D) rapidly rotating neutron star, producing beams of radio energy and occasionally of X-rays and visible light

Correct Answer: