Chapter 1: Understanding Neutron Stars

In today's discussion, we tackle an intriguing question from one of our subscribers: What color are neutron stars? While it's well understood that discussing the color of neutrons and protons is somewhat irrelevant—given their minuscule size compared to the wavelength of visible light—neutron stars present a different case. These stars, composed predominantly of neutrons, are large enough to be observed by the human eye. So, what can we infer about their color?

The perceived colors of objects around us are influenced by the wavelengths of light they reflect. Like all stars, neutron stars can be categorized as ideal black bodies.

As such, neutron stars absorb about 99.99% of the light that reaches them, emitting light solely through thermal radiation. Consequently, for these stars, color is defined by the wavelengths at which they radiate energy. There are specific wavelengths where significant radiation is generated, while others produce minimal radiation. The wavelengths that emit the most radiation effectively determine the color a star appears to human observers.

For neutron stars, maximum radiation emission occurs in the X-ray spectrum, which is invisible to us. In the visible spectrum, all colors exhibit nearly equal intensity, gradually shifting from red to violet. This leads us to conclude that a neutron star would likely appear white with a subtle violet hue.

Currently, observations of neutron stars are conducted primarily in the X-ray and gamma-ray spectrums. This is due to their diminutive size, typically around 20–30 km in diameter, and their limited visible light emission. Therefore, even the most advanced optical telescopes struggle to discern their true appearance.

In the video titled "How Squishy Are Neutron Stars? And Why Does that Matter?", viewers will explore the fascinating properties of neutron stars, including their unique characteristics and implications for understanding the universe.

The second video, "A Red Giant with a Neutron Star at its core: The strange world of the Thorne-Zytkow Object," delves into the unusual phenomena surrounding neutron stars and their interactions with surrounding celestial bodies.

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