RELEASE NO: P99-005

X-RAY PULSAR WITH COMPANION STAR IMAGES- This is an artist's conception of an X-ray pulsar in a binary star system: Matter from a companion star, most likely a Red Giant, channels onto a rapidly spinning neutron star at its magnetic poles. Magnetic fields run in loops from pole to pole. Radiation in the form of X-rays appears to pulse on and off as hot patches of gas are exposed at the poles with the neutron star's rotation. (The axis of rotation is different from the axis of the magnetic field.) The neutron star -- more massive than the Sun yet with a diameter of only 10-15 kilometers -- is extremely dense. Its strong gravitational force accelerates infalling matter to high energies.

Art Credit: Maggie Masetti, NASA

A high resolution version of this image is available on the internet at: http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/ftp/newsmedia/AAS/PULSAR

PHOTO CREDIT: NASA, or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

No copyright protection is asserted for this photograph. If a recognizable person appears in this photograph, use for commercial purposes may infringe a right of privacy or publicity. It may not be used to state or imply the endorsement by NASA or by any NASA employees of a commercial product, process or service, or used in any other manner that might mislead. Accordingly it is requested that if this photo is used in advertising, and other commercial promotion, layout and copy be submitted to NASA prior to release.