Pulsar

A pulsar is a continuously rotating neutron star, also known as a white dwarf, that emits accelerated particles, producing a powerful beam of photons along with electromagnetic pulses of radiation at very regular intervals, typically ranging from milliseconds to seconds, and jets of particles out along the two magnetic poles. They are responsible for the source of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays. It can only be observed when that beam is pointing towards Earth, similar to how laser light is visible only when directed towards an observer. It cannot be seen amidst smoke like lasers because there is no smoke in space except for space clusters, extraterrestrial dust particles, and interstellar clouds. Pulsars are utilized to detect extreme states of matter, new planets beyond Earth's solar system, and energetic cosmic events such as collisions of supermassive black holes.

Vela pulsar is a neutron star that was formed when a massive star collapsed. It is about 1,000 light years from Earth, spans about 12 miles in diameter, and makes over 11 complete rotations every second, faster than a helicopter rotor. As the pulsar whips around, it spews out a jet of charged particles that race out along the pulsar's rotation axis at about 70% of the speed of light.