New record for largest neutron star

摘要

Astronomers at the NANOGrav Physics Frontiers Center have observed the biggest neutron star ever recorded,which is almost too massive to be in existence.The pulsar,J0740+6620,is 2.17 times the mass of the sun and has a diameter of about 15 miles.This measurement approaches the limits of how big and compact an object can become without crushing itself into a black hole.Scott Ransom at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory said:”Neutron stars have this tipping point where their interior densities get so extreme that the force of gravity overwhelms even the ability of neutrons to resist further collapse.