neutron star

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neutron star Extremely small, dense star that consists mostly of neutrons. Neutron stars are formed when a massive star explodes as a supernova, blasting off its outer layers and compressing the core so that its component protons and electrons merge into neutrons. They are observed as pulsars. They have masses comparable to that of the Sun, but diameters of only c.20km (12mi) and average densities of c.1015g/cm3.

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