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Catching Neutron Bursts
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Catching Neutron Bursts

The KAT-7 radio observatory is made of seven dishes, 12 meters across, in the Northern Cape area of South Africa meant to test engineering for the upcoming MeerKAT observatory. The astronomers using KAT-7, however, are doing more than just tinkering with schematics -- they had a scientific paper accepted for publication last week. The observatory has been pointed at Circinus X-1, binary star system that includes a neutron star. KAT-7 caught two strong flares during the month of observation, which can tell astronomers how mass is accreted by neutron stars and other dense objects, like black holes. Above is an artist impression of the binary system and its powerful jets.

Image: South Africa Square Kilometre Array / KAT-7


 

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Air & Space/Smithsonian magazine has been delighting aerospace enthusiasts with the best writing about their favorite subject since April 1986. As an adjunct of the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum, Air & Space matches the grand scope of the Museum, encompassing every era of aviation and space exploration. With stories that range from the Wright Brothers to the design of NASA's next lunar lander, Air & Space emphasizes the human stories as well as the technology of aviation and spaceflight.

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