Did I catch your favs from #NeutronStarWeek?
Did you catch the subtle map in the background? 👀
The dashed contours track distance from our solar system 🟡 on a log scale, so as we move through these neutron stars 🟠 we’re also moving across the scale of the Universe.
Thanks for joining me on this journey! ✨
#NeutronStars #Astronomy
The dashed contours track distance from our solar system 🟡 on a log scale, so as we move through these neutron stars 🟠 we’re also moving across the scale of the Universe.
Thanks for joining me on this journey! ✨
#NeutronStars #Astronomy
August 28, 2026 at 1:20 AM
Did I catch your favs from #NeutronStarWeek?
continuing the calculation 😎
I used the median values from PSR J0030+0451
ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2026ApJ....
#NeutronStarWeek
I used the median values from PSR J0030+0451
ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2026ApJ....
#NeutronStarWeek
August 22, 2026 at 9:16 PM
continuing the calculation 😎
I used the median values from PSR J0030+0451
ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2026ApJ....
#NeutronStarWeek
I used the median values from PSR J0030+0451
ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2026ApJ....
#NeutronStarWeek
Let's do a calculation together of just how dense neutron star matter really is; using a real neutron star's measurements 😎
Watch along, and try it for yourself here: shanikagalaudage.github.io/scicomm-outr... ✨
(the video is longer than 3min, so it's in two parts!)
#NeutronStarWeek #SciComm
Watch along, and try it for yourself here: shanikagalaudage.github.io/scicomm-outr... ✨
(the video is longer than 3min, so it's in two parts!)
#NeutronStarWeek #SciComm
August 22, 2026 at 9:09 PM
Let's do a calculation together of just how dense neutron star matter really is; using a real neutron star's measurements 😎
Watch along, and try it for yourself here: shanikagalaudage.github.io/scicomm-outr... ✨
(the video is longer than 3min, so it's in two parts!)
#NeutronStarWeek #SciComm
Watch along, and try it for yourself here: shanikagalaudage.github.io/scicomm-outr... ✨
(the video is longer than 3min, so it's in two parts!)
#NeutronStarWeek #SciComm
Here's a vid! But long story short... if...
- Volume(thimble)= 2ml
- Mass(NS) = 1.43 Msun
- Radius(NS) = 12.68 km
- Mass(av Human) = 50 kg
this would mean 8.31 billion folks on Earth =
0.62 thimbles of NS matter! 🤯
so YES, it's a fact!
shanikagalaudage.github.io/scicomm-outr...
#NeutronStarWeek
- Volume(thimble)= 2ml
- Mass(NS) = 1.43 Msun
- Radius(NS) = 12.68 km
- Mass(av Human) = 50 kg
this would mean 8.31 billion folks on Earth =
0.62 thimbles of NS matter! 🤯
so YES, it's a fact!
shanikagalaudage.github.io/scicomm-outr...
#NeutronStarWeek
Let's do a calculation together of just how dense neutron star matter really is; using a real neutron star's measurements 😎
Watch along, and try it for yourself here: shanikagalaudage.github.io/scicomm-outr... ✨
(the video is longer than 3min, so it's in two parts!)
#NeutronStarWeek #SciComm
Watch along, and try it for yourself here: shanikagalaudage.github.io/scicomm-outr... ✨
(the video is longer than 3min, so it's in two parts!)
#NeutronStarWeek #SciComm
August 22, 2026 at 9:31 PM
Here's a vid! But long story short... if...
- Volume(thimble)= 2ml
- Mass(NS) = 1.43 Msun
- Radius(NS) = 12.68 km
- Mass(av Human) = 50 kg
this would mean 8.31 billion folks on Earth =
0.62 thimbles of NS matter! 🤯
so YES, it's a fact!
shanikagalaudage.github.io/scicomm-outr...
#NeutronStarWeek
- Volume(thimble)= 2ml
- Mass(NS) = 1.43 Msun
- Radius(NS) = 12.68 km
- Mass(av Human) = 50 kg
this would mean 8.31 billion folks on Earth =
0.62 thimbles of NS matter! 🤯
so YES, it's a fact!
shanikagalaudage.github.io/scicomm-outr...
#NeutronStarWeek
We have not yet detected gravitational waves from isolated neutron stars, but this is already telling us something about what they are made from
ligo.org/science-summ...
#NeutronStarWeek 🧪🔭
ligo.org/science-summ...
#NeutronStarWeek 🧪🔭
Neutron stars: smoother than billiard balls – unfortunately – LSC – LIGO Scientific Collaboration
ligo.org
August 22, 2026 at 1:49 PM
We have not yet detected gravitational waves from isolated neutron stars, but this is already telling us something about what they are made from
ligo.org/science-summ...
#NeutronStarWeek 🧪🔭
ligo.org/science-summ...
#NeutronStarWeek 🧪🔭
So I decided to plot the amount of human that has accumulated overtime, in terms of neutron star matter in millilitres
Because why not? 🤣
Make the plot here: shanikagalaudage.github.io/scicomm-outr...
(and yes, a tbsp in Australia is different; happy #NationalScienceWeek 🤣)
#NeutronStarWeek
Because why not? 🤣
Make the plot here: shanikagalaudage.github.io/scicomm-outr...
(and yes, a tbsp in Australia is different; happy #NationalScienceWeek 🤣)
#NeutronStarWeek
August 22, 2026 at 10:35 PM
So I decided to plot the amount of human that has accumulated overtime, in terms of neutron star matter in millilitres
Because why not? 🤣
Make the plot here: shanikagalaudage.github.io/scicomm-outr...
(and yes, a tbsp in Australia is different; happy #NationalScienceWeek 🤣)
#NeutronStarWeek
Because why not? 🤣
Make the plot here: shanikagalaudage.github.io/scicomm-outr...
(and yes, a tbsp in Australia is different; happy #NationalScienceWeek 🤣)
#NeutronStarWeek
Magnetars are neutron stars -- they just have these unbelievably strong magnetic fields, much stronger than other neutron stars. These powerful magnetic fields produce weird behaviour, like X-ray bursts and giant flares.
Magnetars are cool, but also, terrifying.
#NeutronStarWeek
Magnetars are cool, but also, terrifying.
#NeutronStarWeek
What causes the difference between a neutron star and a magnetar?
August 22, 2026 at 12:04 AM
Magnetars are neutron stars -- they just have these unbelievably strong magnetic fields, much stronger than other neutron stars. These powerful magnetic fields produce weird behaviour, like X-ray bursts and giant flares.
Magnetars are cool, but also, terrifying.
#NeutronStarWeek
Magnetars are cool, but also, terrifying.
#NeutronStarWeek
Not enough mass to begin with, so collapsing core is halted by something called neutron degeneracy pressure -- basically quantum mechanics prevents the neutrons from being squeezed together any further (as well as nuclear forces). It makes them incredibly dense though!
#NeutronStarWeek
#NeutronStarWeek
August 22, 2026 at 12:19 AM
Not enough mass to begin with, so collapsing core is halted by something called neutron degeneracy pressure -- basically quantum mechanics prevents the neutrons from being squeezed together any further (as well as nuclear forces). It makes them incredibly dense though!
#NeutronStarWeek
#NeutronStarWeek
That's a wrap from me for #NeutronStarWeek!
Go check out the hashtag for lots of fun info, links, visualisations about these awesome astrophysical objects.
@astronerdika.bsky.social has some more posts next few days, and a few QandAs to respond to as well.
Hope you enjoyed!
We made it fetch!
Go check out the hashtag for lots of fun info, links, visualisations about these awesome astrophysical objects.
@astronerdika.bsky.social has some more posts next few days, and a few QandAs to respond to as well.
Hope you enjoyed!
We made it fetch!
This is how I imagine the audience that follows me is split on #NeutronStarWeek
It's def. gonna happen!
It's def. gonna happen!
August 22, 2026 at 12:34 AM
That's a wrap from me for #NeutronStarWeek!
Go check out the hashtag for lots of fun info, links, visualisations about these awesome astrophysical objects.
@astronerdika.bsky.social has some more posts next few days, and a few QandAs to respond to as well.
Hope you enjoyed!
We made it fetch!
Go check out the hashtag for lots of fun info, links, visualisations about these awesome astrophysical objects.
@astronerdika.bsky.social has some more posts next few days, and a few QandAs to respond to as well.
Hope you enjoyed!
We made it fetch!
Well, o far no evidence of this one as yet, but there is a hypothetical object!
They're called: Thorne–Żytkow objects -- where a neutron star exists inside a red giant star, likely the result of a collision.
There are event a few candidates: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorne%...
#NeutronStarWeek
They're called: Thorne–Żytkow objects -- where a neutron star exists inside a red giant star, likely the result of a collision.
There are event a few candidates: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorne%...
#NeutronStarWeek
When are we gonna discover one INSIDE another star, Rami? I want it😄
August 21, 2026 at 11:46 PM
Well, o far no evidence of this one as yet, but there is a hypothetical object!
They're called: Thorne–Żytkow objects -- where a neutron star exists inside a red giant star, likely the result of a collision.
There are event a few candidates: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorne%...
#NeutronStarWeek
They're called: Thorne–Żytkow objects -- where a neutron star exists inside a red giant star, likely the result of a collision.
There are event a few candidates: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorne%...
#NeutronStarWeek
Closest thermally cooling NS: RX J1856.5-3754 ~400 light-years
Closest canonical pulsar: PSR J0108-1431 ~424 light-years
Closest millisecond pulsar: PSR J0437-4715 ~511 light-years
Closest magnetar: XTE J1810-197 (I think) ~8000 light-years
We def. don't want them any closer!
#NeutronStarWeek
Closest canonical pulsar: PSR J0108-1431 ~424 light-years
Closest millisecond pulsar: PSR J0437-4715 ~511 light-years
Closest magnetar: XTE J1810-197 (I think) ~8000 light-years
We def. don't want them any closer!
#NeutronStarWeek
What is the closest known neutron star (Of each kind?)
August 21, 2026 at 11:29 PM
Closest thermally cooling NS: RX J1856.5-3754 ~400 light-years
Closest canonical pulsar: PSR J0108-1431 ~424 light-years
Closest millisecond pulsar: PSR J0437-4715 ~511 light-years
Closest magnetar: XTE J1810-197 (I think) ~8000 light-years
We def. don't want them any closer!
#NeutronStarWeek
Closest canonical pulsar: PSR J0108-1431 ~424 light-years
Closest millisecond pulsar: PSR J0437-4715 ~511 light-years
Closest magnetar: XTE J1810-197 (I think) ~8000 light-years
We def. don't want them any closer!
#NeutronStarWeek
For the SciFi story, I'd def. check out Roche-Lobe radius: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roche_l...
It's related to each star's mass, and their separation distance.
Also check out Low-Mass X-ray Binaries --> how millisecond pulsars spin up real quick due to mass transfer!
#NeutronStarWeek
It's related to each star's mass, and their separation distance.
Also check out Low-Mass X-ray Binaries --> how millisecond pulsars spin up real quick due to mass transfer!
#NeutronStarWeek
August 22, 2026 at 12:01 AM
For the SciFi story, I'd def. check out Roche-Lobe radius: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roche_l...
It's related to each star's mass, and their separation distance.
Also check out Low-Mass X-ray Binaries --> how millisecond pulsars spin up real quick due to mass transfer!
#NeutronStarWeek
It's related to each star's mass, and their separation distance.
Also check out Low-Mass X-ray Binaries --> how millisecond pulsars spin up real quick due to mass transfer!
#NeutronStarWeek
It's gravity that pulls objects towards the neutron star, the magnetic field influences charged particles/plasma and direct these along magnetic field lines.
The density is a consequence of ~1.4 solar masses squeezed into a city-sized sphere!
Nibbler might be dark matter, though!
#NeutronStarWeek
The density is a consequence of ~1.4 solar masses squeezed into a city-sized sphere!
Nibbler might be dark matter, though!
#NeutronStarWeek
Does the magnetic field of a neutron star collect objects? What are the consequences of such a high density object? Is Nibbler of Futurama related to neutron stars ;)?
August 21, 2026 at 11:52 PM
It's gravity that pulls objects towards the neutron star, the magnetic field influences charged particles/plasma and direct these along magnetic field lines.
The density is a consequence of ~1.4 solar masses squeezed into a city-sized sphere!
Nibbler might be dark matter, though!
#NeutronStarWeek
The density is a consequence of ~1.4 solar masses squeezed into a city-sized sphere!
Nibbler might be dark matter, though!
#NeutronStarWeek
Neutron stars form from massive progenitor stars ~8-25 solar masses. The core collapse during supernova is halted by neutron degeneracy pressure and nuclear forces.
In more massive stars (~25+ solar masses) the collapsing core is too massive and keeps collapsing into a black hole.
#NeutronStarWeek
In more massive stars (~25+ solar masses) the collapsing core is too massive and keeps collapsing into a black hole.
#NeutronStarWeek
So, neutron stars are the last thing of matter before it collapses into a black hole, right? The episodes of How The Universe Works that talk about them struggle mightily to describe them. (and that's about the level my science is at)
August 21, 2026 at 11:40 PM
Neutron stars form from massive progenitor stars ~8-25 solar masses. The core collapse during supernova is halted by neutron degeneracy pressure and nuclear forces.
In more massive stars (~25+ solar masses) the collapsing core is too massive and keeps collapsing into a black hole.
#NeutronStarWeek
In more massive stars (~25+ solar masses) the collapsing core is too massive and keeps collapsing into a black hole.
#NeutronStarWeek
The #NeutronStarWeek party will continue with me for a couple more days as I finish up some stuff!
(And it’s still Aug 21 in this part of the world!)
(And it’s still Aug 21 in this part of the world!)
That's a wrap from me for #NeutronStarWeek!
Go check out the hashtag for lots of fun info, links, visualisations about these awesome astrophysical objects.
@astronerdika.bsky.social has some more posts next few days, and a few QandAs to respond to as well.
Hope you enjoyed!
We made it fetch!
Go check out the hashtag for lots of fun info, links, visualisations about these awesome astrophysical objects.
@astronerdika.bsky.social has some more posts next few days, and a few QandAs to respond to as well.
Hope you enjoyed!
We made it fetch!
This is how I imagine the audience that follows me is split on #NeutronStarWeek
It's def. gonna happen!
It's def. gonna happen!
August 22, 2026 at 1:42 AM
The #NeutronStarWeek party will continue with me for a couple more days as I finish up some stuff!
(And it’s still Aug 21 in this part of the world!)
(And it’s still Aug 21 in this part of the world!)
Time to get stuck into the QandA for the last bit of #NeutronStarWeek! Thanks to everyone who sent in fun questions ... I'll answer some and @astronerdika.bsky.social is going to answer the others too.
For this one ... it would be a second or two!
If NS was at Moon distance... ~10 mins!
For this one ... it would be a second or two!
If NS was at Moon distance... ~10 mins!
How fast with the Earth get sucked into that neutron star if it was that close? 😅
August 21, 2026 at 11:20 PM
Time to get stuck into the QandA for the last bit of #NeutronStarWeek! Thanks to everyone who sent in fun questions ... I'll answer some and @astronerdika.bsky.social is going to answer the others too.
For this one ... it would be a second or two!
If NS was at Moon distance... ~10 mins!
For this one ... it would be a second or two!
If NS was at Moon distance... ~10 mins!
1. It would need to accrete A LOT of mass before it formed a black hole. Maybe ~1 solar mass if not more? (check out TOV limit; newish gravitational wave results for the Mass Gap)
2. Depends on the event, maybe? An asymmetrical collapse, perhaps? Not sure tbh!
3. Nuclear pasta!
#NeutronStarWeek
2. Depends on the event, maybe? An asymmetrical collapse, perhaps? Not sure tbh!
3. Nuclear pasta!
#NeutronStarWeek
1. Do we get anything special if a magnetar accumulates enough mass to become a black hole?
2. Does the transition from neutron star to black hole produce detactable gravity waves?
3. What is your favourite pasta?
2. Does the transition from neutron star to black hole produce detactable gravity waves?
3. What is your favourite pasta?
August 22, 2026 at 12:15 AM
1. It would need to accrete A LOT of mass before it formed a black hole. Maybe ~1 solar mass if not more? (check out TOV limit; newish gravitational wave results for the Mass Gap)
2. Depends on the event, maybe? An asymmetrical collapse, perhaps? Not sure tbh!
3. Nuclear pasta!
#NeutronStarWeek
2. Depends on the event, maybe? An asymmetrical collapse, perhaps? Not sure tbh!
3. Nuclear pasta!
#NeutronStarWeek
I was late to #NeutronStarWeek but partly because I was busy working on some new results on my favourite kind of neutron star, the friendly (binary) kind – they have a generous companion, who donates gas that falls onto the neutron star ("accretes") and collects there
August 21, 2026 at 5:13 PM
I was late to #NeutronStarWeek but partly because I was busy working on some new results on my favourite kind of neutron star, the friendly (binary) kind – they have a generous companion, who donates gas that falls onto the neutron star ("accretes") and collects there
I will add an extended thread about this study soon, for now I just wanted to do my bit for #NeutronStarWeek before it ends. Thanks for suggesting @astronerdika.bsky.social !!
August 21, 2026 at 4:26 PM
I will add an extended thread about this study soon, for now I just wanted to do my bit for #NeutronStarWeek before it ends. Thanks for suggesting @astronerdika.bsky.social !!
I didn't know #neutronstarweek was a thing but as we gear up for #fatbearweek, I guess we could basically split the difference with #fatsphereweek
Last thread for #NeutronStarWeek!
A collection of articles, visualisations and fun facts showing how awesome neutron stars (and esp. pulsars) are!
Let's start with this ....
Neutron stars are TINY! ~20km across.
Let's zoom in to one hovering over Sydney!
📸 Daniel Wysocki and HanGyeol Suh
A collection of articles, visualisations and fun facts showing how awesome neutron stars (and esp. pulsars) are!
Let's start with this ....
Neutron stars are TINY! ~20km across.
Let's zoom in to one hovering over Sydney!
📸 Daniel Wysocki and HanGyeol Suh
August 21, 2026 at 1:16 PM
I didn't know #neutronstarweek was a thing but as we gear up for #fatbearweek, I guess we could basically split the difference with #fatsphereweek
Thank you @astronerdika.bsky.social and @rami.spaceaustralia.com for making #NeutronStarWeek happen! Everyone loves GW170817, so I spent the last three years of my PhD giving a lot of attention to GW190425 by studying which formation channel is most likely to form heavy GW190425-like DNSs!
August 21, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Thank you @astronerdika.bsky.social and @rami.spaceaustralia.com for making #NeutronStarWeek happen! Everyone loves GW170817, so I spent the last three years of my PhD giving a lot of attention to GW190425 by studying which formation channel is most likely to form heavy GW190425-like DNSs!
*I say lucky because the Virgo detector had turned back on after some upgrades just 2.5 weeks prior!
It was actually in a sort of blind spot of that detector. This allowed us to localise the source incredibly well, giving EM astronomers a great shot at finding it, and they did! 😎
#NeutronStarWeek
It was actually in a sort of blind spot of that detector. This allowed us to localise the source incredibly well, giving EM astronomers a great shot at finding it, and they did! 😎
#NeutronStarWeek
Were were only able to localize the source of #GW170817 thanks to the addition of @egovirgo.bsky.social to our network
Having at least 3 detectors makes a big difference!
bsky.app/profile/egov...
#NeutronStarWeek
Having at least 3 detectors makes a big difference!
bsky.app/profile/egov...
#NeutronStarWeek
✨ Gravitational waves have allowed us to detect extreme astrophysical events. Among these, #GW170817, the collision of two neutron stars observed for the first time both through gravitational waves and electromagnetic radiation, has opened a new window onto the Universe.
August 21, 2026 at 6:05 PM
*I say lucky because the Virgo detector had turned back on after some upgrades just 2.5 weeks prior!
It was actually in a sort of blind spot of that detector. This allowed us to localise the source incredibly well, giving EM astronomers a great shot at finding it, and they did! 😎
#NeutronStarWeek
It was actually in a sort of blind spot of that detector. This allowed us to localise the source incredibly well, giving EM astronomers a great shot at finding it, and they did! 😎
#NeutronStarWeek
The first paper of this series, ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2025MNRA..., was published last year (around this week), so it still counts as #NeutronStarWeek special, and the second paper of this series, arxiv.org/abs/2608.17430 was out on arXiv again this week! (comments are welcome:))
ui.adsabs.harvard.edu
August 21, 2026 at 4:26 PM
The first paper of this series, ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2025MNRA..., was published last year (around this week), so it still counts as #NeutronStarWeek special, and the second paper of this series, arxiv.org/abs/2608.17430 was out on arXiv again this week! (comments are welcome:))
GW170817 gets the limelight because we got lucky* and saw it's electromagnetic counterpart.
But #GW190425 is a pair of neutron stars that really puzzled us because their total mass was much larger than ones we see in our galaxy!
#NeutronStarWeek
📸 arXiv:2001.01761 @ligo.org @egovirgo.bsky.social
But #GW190425 is a pair of neutron stars that really puzzled us because their total mass was much larger than ones we see in our galaxy!
#NeutronStarWeek
📸 arXiv:2001.01761 @ligo.org @egovirgo.bsky.social
August 21, 2026 at 6:05 PM
GW170817 gets the limelight because we got lucky* and saw it's electromagnetic counterpart.
But #GW190425 is a pair of neutron stars that really puzzled us because their total mass was much larger than ones we see in our galaxy!
#NeutronStarWeek
📸 arXiv:2001.01761 @ligo.org @egovirgo.bsky.social
But #GW190425 is a pair of neutron stars that really puzzled us because their total mass was much larger than ones we see in our galaxy!
#NeutronStarWeek
📸 arXiv:2001.01761 @ligo.org @egovirgo.bsky.social
It's close to my heart because it's the object I studied in my first ever research project, supervised by @duncankgalloway.bsky.social
You can read about that research in this #SpaceAus article:
spaceaustralia.com/news/cosmic-...
#NeutronStarWeek
You can read about that research in this #SpaceAus article:
spaceaustralia.com/news/cosmic-...
#NeutronStarWeek
Cosmic lighthouses and continuous gravitational waves | Spaceaustralia
OzGrav PhD student Shanika Galaudage discusses her work on searching X-ray pulsations from potential continuous gravitational-wave sources.
spaceaustralia.com
August 21, 2026 at 5:48 PM
It's close to my heart because it's the object I studied in my first ever research project, supervised by @duncankgalloway.bsky.social
You can read about that research in this #SpaceAus article:
spaceaustralia.com/news/cosmic-...
#NeutronStarWeek
You can read about that research in this #SpaceAus article:
spaceaustralia.com/news/cosmic-...
#NeutronStarWeek