Spider Star System : NASA Research
Scientists at NASA have recently detected the first gamma-ray eclipses from a “spider” star system.
- Spider Star System is a binary star system in which a superdense star (pulsar) spins quickly, eats another star.
- The super-dense object that begins to pull a matter from the companion resembles the habits of spiders of the genus Latrodectus, in which the female eats the male after mating, hence the name came.
- The dense pulsar strips material from the outer atmosphere of its companion, periodically shedding the gathered material in violent explosions.
- In the later stage of their lifetimes, the energetic particles streaming out of the pulsar can strip the atmosphere of its companion.
- In either case, the pulsar slowly erodes its companion over time.
- Two Types:
- Black widows: Binary pulsar systems, in which the mass of a companion star is less than 5 percent of the pulsar.
- Redback: Binary pulsar systems in which mass of the companion star is from 10 to 50 percent of the pulsar.
