Discover the Rare Black Neutron Star

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the significance of a BBC article regarding the discovery of a rare astronomical object with a mass between the most massive neutron star and the least massive black hole. Participants highlight that the article's headline is misleading, as astronomers have not definitively classified the object as either a neutron star or a black hole due to uncertainties in the maximum mass of neutron stars, which is estimated to be between 1.5 and 3 solar masses. The lack of references in the article raises questions about its credibility, and the discussion references a journal article that provides more context on the matter.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of neutron star and black hole classifications
  • Familiarity with the equation of state of matter in astrophysics
  • Knowledge of astronomical mass measurements
  • Ability to critically evaluate scientific articles and their sources
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the equation of state of matter in neutron stars
  • Explore the latest findings on neutron star mass limits
  • Investigate the methods used to classify astronomical objects
  • Read the journal article linked in the discussion for detailed insights
USEFUL FOR

Astronomers, astrophysics students, science communicators, and anyone interested in the classification of celestial objects and the nuances of astronomical discoveries.

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phinds said:
This BBC article posts no references so I wonder if anyone has any idea how significant it is?

The headline and initial paragraph of the article are highly misleading. All that's going on here is that an object has been observed with a mass greater than that of the most massive neutron star previously observed, but less than the mass of the least massive black hole previously observed, and astronomers aren't sure yet whether it's a neutron star or a black hole.

If we had a more accurate knowledge of the maximum possible mass for neutron stars (all we know is that it's somewhere between about 1.5 and 3 solar masses; we can't pin it down more accurately because of our poor understanding of the equation of state of matter in this regime), we might be able to rule out the possibility that this object is a neutron star; but we don't, so we can't.
 
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PeterDonis said:
The headline and initial paragraph of the article are highly misleading.
Imagine my surprise :oldlaugh:

Thanks Peter
 

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