PULSAR.FLC
(c) 1994 by Steve Perrigo  70244,2773
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Players to view FLC files are available in the GRAPHDEV, GRAPHDEV and
other forums.
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This animation was raytraced using POVRAY 2.1 and incorporates imagemaps
generated with Fauve Matisse/Kai's Power Tools and IMPROCES.  The scene
was Modeled in MORAY 1.5 and compiled into an animation using DTA.  This
animation contains 72 frames, one per 5 degrees of rotation.  A single,
high resolution image from the animation is available under the name
PULSAR.GIF.
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The scene was inspired by a talk I recently attended where radio astronomer
Dr. Woody Sullivan from the University of Washington gave a great overview of
the science of radio astronomy and an interesting discussion about pulsars.
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The scene depicts a neutron star surrounded by its intense magnetic field.
The type of neutron stars discussed were characerized as being about 1.5
times the mass of the sun and about 15 miles in diameter.  The magnetic
field of the neutron star does not necessarily align with the axis of
rotation.  Pulsars rotating at a rate of over 600 times per second have
been identified.  Energy can escape the neutron star at its magnetic poles.
This creates a "lighthouse" type effect as the neutron star rotates - sending
off a beacon of energy in a highly regular, sweeping pattern.  When observed
by radio astronomers, pulsars are characterized by their precise pulses
of energy.