ASTR 122, Robert L Zimmerman
Assignment # 8: Exotic Objects
Assigned March 3, 2008
---Due March 10, 2008
You are asked to return various images and answer a few questions. You MUST place all images in a word processor and include a description of the image.
1. Black
Holes Cygnus X-1
Einstein's general theory of relativity describes gravity as a curvature of space-time. Very massive or dense objects generate much stronger gravity. The most compact objects imaginable have such strong gravity that nothing, not even light; can escape their grip.
Return the picture of Cygnus X-1
(Black Hole)
http://library.thinkquest.org/25715/discovery/binary.htm
Include a
brief description and answer the following questions:
What are the mass of
the blue giant and the mass of the black hole?
Why does the mass of
the black hole rule out a possible neutron star?
2.
Supernova Remnant: Crab Nebula
The Crab Nebula is one of
the most famous supernova remnants. Return the picture of the crab
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap080217.html
Write a brief description and answer the
following questions:
When was it observed?
What object is found at the
center and how fast does it spin?
What is the size that the Crab Nebula spans?
3.
Hypernovae
Outbursts more powerful
than supernovae are dubbed hypernovae. These explosions might result from
high-mass stars and liberate perhaps ten times more energy than conventional
supernovae.
Return the picture of a
possible hypernovae found at
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap990420.html
Write a
brief description.
A magnetar forms from the
explosion of a supernova. The star's heavy center collapses under its own
gravity into a dense ball of super-compressed matter12 miles across. Almost
unimaginable magnetic fields are formed, about 800 trillion
times that
of Earth's, "A magnet this strong could erase the magnetic strip on the
credit cards in your wallet or pull the keys out of your pocket from a distance
halfway to the Moon. In 1998, from a distance of about 20,000 light-years, one
magnetar, SGR 1900+14 generated a powerful flash of gamma-rays that had a
measurable effect on Earth's ionosphere.
The intense magnetic field
causes the crust of the Òneutron starÓ to crack and ripple in powerful
starquakes. The energy released in these explosive starquakes streams out
into space as intense flashes of gamma- rays.
Return the image of the Magnetar
Cataloged as N49
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap030704.html
Write a brief description.
5. Quark Stars
It is theorized that when
the neutron-degenerate matter, which makes up a neutron star, is put under
sufficient pressure due to the star's gravity, the individual neutrons break
down into their constituent quarks. The star then becomes known as a
"quark star". Quark stars are intermediate between neutron stars and
black holes in size and density. Quark stars can also be more compact and cool
faster than neutron stars.
Return the image of
RJX J185635-375, which is a possible Quark Star,
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap020414.html
Write a
brief description.