A magnetar is a neutron star with an extremely powerful magnetic field, the decay of which powers the emission of copious amounts of high-energy
electromagnetic radiation, particularly X-rays and gamma-rays.[1] The theory regarding these objects was formulated by Robert Duncan and Christopher
Thompson in 1992, but the first recorded burst of gamma rays thought to have been from a magnetar was on March 5, 1979.[2] During the following
decade, the magnetar hypothesis has become widely accepted as a likely explanation for soft gamma repeaters and anomalous X-ray pulsars.
en.wikipedia.org...
Magnetars are neutron stars, left over from the death of a giant star. Their density and rapid rotation (several times per second) enormously
increases the power of their magnetism. If you placed a magnetar where the Moon is, 400,000 kilometres away, it could still wipe your credit cards and
rip spoons out of your pockets
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[edit on 9/25/2008 by altered_states]
