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A neutron star is a type of remnant that can result from the gravitational collapse of a massive star during a Type II, Type Ib or Type Ic supernova event. Such stars are composed almost entirely of neutrons, which are subatomic particles without electrical charge and roughly the same mass as protons.
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A neutron star is so dense that one teaspoon (5 milliliters) of its material would have a mass over 5.5×1012 kg, about 900 times the mass of the Great Pyramid of Giza.[7] The resulting force of gravity is so strong that if an object were to fall from a height of one meter it would only take one microsecond to hit the surface of the neutron star, and would do so at around 2000 kilometers per second, or 7.2 million kilometers per hour.[8]

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A starquake is an astrophysical phenomenon that occurs when the crust of a neutron star undergoes a sudden adjustment, analogous to an earthquake on Earth. This happens regularly as the neutron star spins down. The original shape of the star is a very flat ellipsoid due to centrifugal forces. As the rotational speed decreases, the shape approaches a sphere. Since the crust is very stiff, this happens intermittently like an earthquake. The rotational speed of the star is measured with very high accuracy, so the star shape, size of quake, and stiffness of the crust is accurately measurable.
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The largest recorded event that some suggest was caused by a starquake occurred on the ultracompact stellar corpse (magnetar) SGR 1806-20. It released gamma rays equivalent to 1036 kW in intensity. This starquake occurred 50,000 light years away; if it occurred within ten light years of Earth, it would have caused a mass extinction.

Geckleberry Finn wrote:The universe is actually a blackhole
http://www.fqxi.org/community/articles/display/134

Dr.Fondles wrote:

IF this happens, not to put too fine a point on it, it will almost undoubtedly be among the most dramatic astronomical events ever observed by human eyes. A type II supernova can briefly outshine an entire galaxy ... and this one will be only a little over five hundred LY away. The supernova that created the Crab Nebula, SN 1054, was bright enough to see in daylight for 23 days, and remained visible for 653 days ... and it was 6,300 LY away. Betelgeuse is almost 12 times closer, and can be expected to appear around 140 times brighter by virtue of that alone. And as noted at the beginning of this post, Betelgeuse is the ninth largest star known to exist in the universe.

Friendly Goatus wrote:Word around the internet pseudo-intellectual cosmos enthusiast campfire is that Betelgeuse is about to go supernova. Like within the next few months. It's one of the brightest stars in our night sky, part of the Orion constellation. The supernova would be about as bright as a full moon for 6 weeks straight, possibly brighter. It's over 500 light years away so it won't do much except inspire awe and maybe cause a few frenzied religious suicides.

It might be completely exaggerated and untrue but I hope beyond hope it happens. Something this huge isn't even a once in a lifetime thing. The last visible supernova happened in the 9th century. I'd probably sit in a lawn chair on the front lawn for a month and a half just watching it with the fevered eyes of a madman.

jakebonz@work wrote:

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jakebonz@work wrote:
Strange happenings on Jupiter = Aliens launching a black monolith at us