• Question: What is the average size for a Zombie Star and do they cange size the older they get?

    Asked by 08reyre to Evan on 16 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Evan Keane

      Evan Keane answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      Great question! The average size of a neutron star (the zombie stars!) is about 20 kilometres in diameter and they are extremely spherical – the most spherical objects we know about in the whole Universe! They do not usually grow or shrink as they get older. If they are left alone that is.

      But there are some that have another star orbiting them and the other star can transfer material onto the neutron stars. Adding material to the zombie star makes it a bit bigger, if this happens. But add too much stuff or do it too quickly and the zombie star could get too heavy. It could then explode and form a black hole!

      One thing I wanted to say about neutron stars is that although they are quite small – 20 kilometres is not very big for a star – they are VERY DENSE! What do I mean? Well I worked this out once and found that if you had a teaspoon of neutron star it would weigh as much as 550 million tyrannosaurus rexes !!!!! All in one teaspoon -> as I sad VERY DENSE! 😀

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