Indicated on this infrared image of the galactic center [
http://antwrp.gsfc.… ] region is the position of SGR 1900+14 - the strongest known magnet in the galaxy. SGR 1900+14 is believed to be a city-sized, spinning, super-magnetic neutron star, or Magnetar. How strong is a Magnetar's magnetic field? The Earth's magnetic field which deflects compass needles is measured to be about 1 Gauss, the strongest fields sustainable in Earth-based laboratories are about 100,000 Gauss, yet the Magnetar's monster magnetic field is estimated to be 1,000,000,000,000,000 Gauss. A magnet this strong, located at about half the distance to the Moon would easily erase your credit cards and suck pens out of your pocket. From a distance of about 20,000 light-years, SGR 1900+14 recently generated a powerful flash of gamma-rays detected [
http://antwrp.gsfc.… ] by many spacecraft. That blast of high-energy radiation [
http://science.nasa… ] is now known to have had a measurable effect on Earth's ionosphere. At the surface of the Magnetar [
http://science.msfc… ], its powerful magnetic field is thought to buckle and shift the neutron star crust generating the intense gamma-ray flares.
explanation
Indicated on this infrared image of the galactic center [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap970315.html ] region is the position of SGR 1900+14 - the strongest known magnet in the galaxy. SGR 1900+14 is believed to be a city-sized, spinning, super-magnetic neutron star, or Magnetar. How strong is a Magnetar's magnetic field? The Earth's magnetic field which deflects compass needles is measured to be about 1 Gauss, the strongest fields sustainable in Earth-based laboratories are about 100,000 Gauss, yet the Magnetar's monster magnetic field is estimated to be 1,000,000,000,000,000 Gauss. A magnet this strong, located at about half the distance to the Moon would easily erase your credit cards and suck pens out of your pocket. From a distance of about 20,000 light-years, SGR 1900+14 recently generated a powerful flash of gamma-rays detected [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap980903.html ] by many spacecraft. That blast of high-energy radiation [ http://science.nasa.gov/newhome/headlines/ast29sep98_1.htm ] is now known to have had a measurable effect on Earth's ionosphere. At the surface of the Magnetar [ http://science.msfc.nasa.gov/newhome/headlines/ast09Jul98_1.htm ], its powerful magnetic field is thought to buckle and shift the neutron star crust generating the intense gamma-ray flares.
Explanation
false