NASA | Stellar Odd Couple Makes Striking Flares

The video discusses a system involving a hot, massive star and a compact remnant, such as a pulsar, which emits X rays and occasionally gamma rays. The pulsar's orbit brings it close to a companion star, leading to gamma ray production. In 2010, NASA's Fermi Telescope observed unexpected gamma ray flares, sparking a mystery for astronomers. Understanding this system could help predict future events and provide insights into other high mass binaries.

What is the compact object in the system discussed in the video?

• A white dwarf

• A red giant

• A neutron star

• A black hole

How often does the pulsar complete a rotation?

• Once every second

• 21 times a second

• 50 times a second

• 100 times a second

What unexpected event did NASA's Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope observe in 2011?

• Intense gamma ray flares

• A decrease in gamma ray emissions

• A black hole formation

• A new pulsar discovery

What did telescopes observing at radio and X-ray wavelengths detect during the gamma ray flares?

• A new star formation

• Nothing unusual

• Unusual X-ray patterns

• Intense radio waves

Why is understanding this pulsar system important for scientists?

• To predict solar flares

• To understand the nature of compact objects in other high mass binaries

• To discover new planets

• To measure the speed of light