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Here's something I've always wondered. Could you get close enough to a neutron star to see it with the naked eye? Or would you be dead? If you could see it, wha

Here's something I've always wondered. Could you get close enough to a neutron star to see it with the naked eye? Or would you be dead? If you could see it, what would it look like?

CuriousCosmic 3y ago
It is 100% possible. There are optical pulsars (i.e. pulsars that emit visible light) and there should exist optical non-pulsing neutron stars as well. One of the most famous neutron stars, the crab pulsar actually emits visible light and the Hubble has pictures of it taken in the visible light spectrum. Picture: https://cdn.esahubble.org/archives/images/large/heic0515a.jpg https://cdn.esahubble.org/archives/images/large/heic0515a.jp... If you look at the above picture closely, in the center of the nebula you can see some ripples. The star is just barely visible in the center of that. If you look at the JWST's much higher resolution (but admittedly infrared) image of the crab nebula, it's far easier to make out. JWST: https://stsci-opo.org/STScI-01HBBMF6GFYQG7ECGX1WD3W92B.png https://stsci-opo.org/STScI-01HBBMF6GFYQG7ECGX1WD3W92B.png https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_pulsar https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_pulsar Now seeing them without a telescope or anything else, we just need to be a bit closer (but still safely far enough away) to be able to see them like we can the other stars in the sky. But if you want to be able to see it like you would the sun or the moon, that is probably a different story.
- chasil 3y ago
  Optical pulsars are quite rare. Only six are known. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_pulsar https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_pulsar
simne 3y ago
Yes. They usually are quiet, but if something drop on surface, emit Roentgen, etc. But anywhere, gravitational forces will be very strong, and their magnetic field also very strong, so you will feel them. Experience might be something like MRT. - With all precautions, probably nothing special, but if do sudden movements, will be strange feelings, also gut may not feel comfortable.

Here's something I've always wondered. Could you get close enough to a neutron star to see it with the naked eye? Or would you be dead? If you could see it, what would it look like?

CuriousCosmic 3y ago

It is 100% possible. There are optical pulsars (i.e. pulsars that emit visible light) and there should exist optical non-pulsing neutron stars as well. One of the most famous neutron stars, the crab pulsar actually emits visible light and the Hubble has pictures of it taken in the visible light spectrum. Picture: https://cdn.esahubble.org/archives/images/large/heic0515a.jpg https://cdn.esahubble.org/archives/images/large/heic0515a.jp... If you look at the above picture closely, in the center of the nebula you can see some ripples. The star is just barely visible in the center of that. If you look at the JWST's much higher resolution (but admittedly infrared) image of the crab nebula, it's far easier to make out. JWST: https://stsci-opo.org/STScI-01HBBMF6GFYQG7ECGX1WD3W92B.png https://stsci-opo.org/STScI-01HBBMF6GFYQG7ECGX1WD3W92B.png https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_pulsar https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_pulsar Now seeing them without a telescope or anything else, we just need to be a bit closer (but still safely far enough away) to be able to see them like we can the other stars in the sky. But if you want to be able to see it like you would the sun or the moon, that is probably a different story.

chasil 3y ago
Optical pulsars are quite rare. Only six are known. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_pulsar https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_pulsar

simne 3y ago

Yes. They usually are quiet, but if something drop on surface, emit Roentgen, etc. But anywhere, gravitational forces will be very strong, and their magnetic field also very strong, so you will feel them. Experience might be something like MRT. - With all precautions, probably nothing special, but if do sudden movements, will be strange feelings, also gut may not feel comfortable.