Do Magnetars Have Solar Systems?

-- | October 30, 2015

Question: Do magnetars have their own solar system, and do they attract iron rich asteroids? If so do their orbits have more of a magnetic attraction than a gravity one or both? — Paul

Answer: Magnetars are not known to have planets or other solar system material orbiting them, so I do not believe that there is a significant amount of iron-rich material for a magnetar to attract. Also, their gravitational forces are a much more serious concern than any magnetic attraction they might have to an object since magnetic attraction requires the proper polarity for objects to attract (or repel).

Jeff Mangum

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