Pulsar

File:Enterprise-pulsar.jpg

The USS Enterprise-D approaching a pulsar in the Lonka Cluster.

A pulsar is a type of star, a rapidly rotating neutron star that sends out streams of electrons at nearly the speed of light along their magnetic poles. These subatomic particles emit electromagnetic radiation, including radio waves, visible light, X-rays, and gamma rays, such as that as the pulsar rotates they appear to "pulse" with light to an observer.

In the mid-2360s the USS Trieste was assigned by Starfleet to undertake a pulsar reasearch project. (Starship Mission Status chart from TNG Season 4 onward)

See also: Astronomy and Astrophysics; class B itinerant pulsar; Vandor system

References

• TNG:
  • "Samaritan Snare"
  • "We'll Always Have Paris"
  • "Allegiance"
• VOY:
  • "Pathfinder"
  • "Child's Play"
  • "Life Line"
  • "One Small Step"