• UGI USER
  • Feb 01, 2024
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UNUSUAL OBJECT IN NGC 1851E SYSTEM

Why in the News?

  • Astronomers identify a perplexing object in the NGC 1851E system, filling the mass gap between neutron stars and black holes.
  • Positioned between the heaviest neutron stars and the lightest black holes, this discovery challenges established astrophysical knowledge.
Source: SKY

 What is NGC 1851 ?

  • NGC 1851, also called Caldwell 73, is a sizable globular cluster situated in the Columba constellation.
  • Positioned approximately 39.5 kilolight-years from the Sun and 54.1 kilolight-years from the Galactic Center.

Observations and Findings:

  • In the NGC 1851 star cluster, a millisecond pulsar and an unseen, massive object coexist.
  • The pulsar’s stable spin aids observations, allowing precise measurements.
  • Astronomers, using the MeerKAT radio telescope, determine the system’s mass, revealing a dark companion within the “black hole mass gap.”
Key Words

Globular clusters : 

Globular clusters are densely packed groups of stars bound together by gravity, typically containing thousands to millions of stars. They are spherical or nearly spherical in shape and are among the oldest objects in the universe, found in the halos of galaxies.

Neutron Star:

A neutron star is the collapsed core of a massive star after a supernova explosion. Composed mostly of neutrons, it is incredibly dense, packing the mass of a few Suns into a sphere the size of a city.

Pulsar:

A pulsar is a highly magnetized, rotating neutron star that emits beams of electromagnetic radiation. As it spins rapidly, these beams are observed as pulses of radiation, resembling a cosmic lighthouse.

Black Hole:

A black hole is a region of spacetime where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape its grasp. It forms when massive stars collapse under their own gravity.