![Magnetic neutron star flare illuminates Cigar Galaxy](/content/images/size/w600/2024/04/594aea21-77a8-4577-8ee7-8a0e01378430.png)
Science
Magnetic neutron star flare illuminates Cigar Galaxy
Astronomers have observed a rare and massive flare from a magnetar—an exceptionally magnetic neutron star—in the starburst galaxy Messier 82 (M82), located approximately 12 million light-years from Earth. The flare, which released as much energy in a tenth of a second as our sun emits in about 10,