Astronomers using the largest telescope have identified a rare 'spider pulsar' in a binary star system, providing clues about stellar evolution. This pulsar, which orbits another star every 3.5 hours, showcases a unique behavior of disappearing for part of the orbit, likely due to interference from galactic dust. The study, conducted over four and a half years, enhances understanding of neutron star mergers that gravitational-wave observatories detect. The findings mark a significant step in exploring the dynamics of neutron stars and their companions.
This particular pulsar caught my attention because the radio signals it emitted showed that it orbited a companion every 3.5 hours - but also disappeared for about one-sixth of that time.
The detection sheds light on processes that give rise to the spectacular mergers seen by gravitational-wave observatories - involving two neutron stars, two black holes, or one of each.
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