Neutron stars on collision course.

AI Thread Summary
When two neutron stars collide, they are expected to merge and form a black hole due to their immense mass and gravitational forces. The collision could release approximately 6.4E47 Joules of energy, significantly impacting the surrounding universe. Special relativity dictates that the stars do not perceive each other as approaching at 1.4 times the speed of light. If the neutron stars were less massive, such as 1 solar mass each, the outcome might differ, potentially preventing black hole formation. The discussion highlights the complexities of stellar collisions and their consequences in astrophysics.
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Simply put, either by chance or a suicidal type-III Civilization, 2 neutron stars, or a neutron star an a large-ish main sequence star are thrown at each other and fall STRAIGHT into each other.
What happens? Does the ~1.4 C Newtonian impact speed result in them getting blown up and releasing their mass-energy into the universe? making a black hole? something else?

For the sake of consistency, let us assume that each neutron star is 2 Solar masses with a radius of 6 km, this also happens to be hovering on the edge of becoming a black hole. (pciked values arbitrarily, got 99.5C as escape velocity.)

By the way, preliminary calculations of the mass-energy of each seem to indicate a yield of 6.4E47 Joules, if that is what would happen.
 
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Note that neither star see's the other as approaching at 1.4 c due to the way velocities add in special relativity.

What would happen is that they would collide and turn into a black hole.
 
Drakkith said:
Note that neither star see's the other as approaching at 1.4 c due to the way velocities add in special relativity.

What would happen is that they would collide and turn into a black hole.

Hmm... I guess that upon contact, they would be nearly in the event horizon...

What about if they were insufficiently massive to do so, e.g. 1 solar mass each and the same radius as before?
 
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