An extremely magnetized neutron star with magnetic fields trillions of times stronger than Earth's, capable of producing intense bursts of X-rays and gamma rays. These are among the most magnetic objects known in the universe.
Coined in 1992 by combining 'magnetic' and 'star,' proposed by astronomers Robert Duncan and Christopher Thompson to describe these highly magnetized neutron stars. The term distinguished them from regular pulsars based on their extreme magnetic properties.
A magnetar's magnetic field is so intense it would erase every credit card on Earth from halfway to the Moon! These cosmic magnets can suddenly crack their own crusts and release more energy in a tenth of a second than our Sun produces in 100,000 years.
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