Supermassive Black Hole?? Magnetar

Summary:

Can someone dummy this down?

Supermassive Black Hole?? Magnetar

Laura (guest) 20 Aug 2010 02:19

Can yall tell me what this means?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38757238/ns/technology_and_science-space/

Re: Supermassive Black Hole?? Magnetar

TheGreatJuju 20 Aug 2010 02:33

In terms of 2012 or doomsday, it doesn't mean anything. In terms of science, it's an interesting specimen because a star of that size should have become a black hole (based on current understanding). Instead, it became what is known as a magnetar, a type of neutron star with an extremely strong magnetic field.

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Re: Supermassive Black Hole?? Magnetar

3WMElliott 20 Aug 2010 02:46

As ever, Phil Plait is on the case

Re: Supermassive Black Hole?? Magnetar

Astrogeek 20 Aug 2010 06:02

Hi Laura;

Did you get the answer you needed?

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"Do you ever think about things you do think about?" - Henry Drummond to Matthew Harrison Brady in Inherit the Wind