How Fast Can a Pulsar Spin?

-- | August 29, 2016

Question: How fast can a pulsar spin? — Anna

Answer: The fastest spinning pulsar has been clocked at a rate of 716 times per second. Most pulsars, though, should possess enough self-gravity to spin as fast as 1000 to 1500 times per second before they either slowly lose energy due to the release of gravitational radiation or break apart.

Jeff Mangum

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