<p>The fastest celestial body we know so far is neutron star XTE J1739-285. It rotates 1122 times per second. Source: <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/0712.4310?fbclid=IwAR2g9RYhybbBlxxzKOfquBa9C33H8mMwuZ_mHZbm1RbcsetrxO3vbvXq7gA" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://arxiv.org/abs/0712.4310?fbclid=IwAR2g9RYhybbBlxxzKOfquBa9C33H8mMwuZ_mHZbm1RbcsetrxO3vbvXq7gA</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-28T20:04:57.733Z
2019-01-28T20:04:57.733Z
Jensin e
<p>As it turns out, the fastest spinning neutron star found yet is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulsar">pulsar</a> 18000 light years away in the constelation of Sagittarius which scientist catalogued as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PSR_J1748-2446ad"><strong>PSR J1748-2446ad</strong></a>. Pulsars are neutron stars that rotate, are highly magnetic and emit a strong perpendicular beam of electromagnetic radiation.</p>

<p>This pulsar's speed is such that:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>At its equator it is spinning at approximately 24% of the speed of light, or over 70,000 km per second.</p>
</blockquote>

<p><strong>PSR J1748-2446ad</strong> rotates a little over 700 times a second, and scientists have this to say on the theoretical limits of the rotation speed of a pulsar (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millisecond_pulsar">from here</a>):</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Current theories of neutron star structure and evolution predict that pulsars would break apart if they spun at a rate of ~1500 rotations per second or more, and that at a rate of above about 1000 rotations per second they would lose energy by gravitational radiation faster than the accretion process would speed them up.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-08T17:57:46.003Z
Fun experiment. Go here https://meettechniek.info/additional/additive-synthesis.html select Impuls, type the number 716 in the Sound Frequency field, and raise the volume. The sound you're hearing is the rotation frequency of the pulsar PSR J1748-2446ad.
Florin Andrei
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-03T22:43:33.817Z
Wow, that also means that such an ultrafast rotating NS is essentially a kinetic energy -> gravitational wave converter.
peterh
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-03T13:25:02.627Z
2014-01-03T13:48:47.870Z
2014-01-03T13:48:47.870Z
Eduardo Serra
<p>What is the fastest spinning rotation of a Neutron star? I have heard that Neutron stars have a specially fast spinning rotation. What is the fastest?</p>

<rotation><neutron-star><speed>
What is the fastest spinning rotation of a Neutron star?
Jamd
# What is the fastest spinning rotation of a Neutron star?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-01-03)

What is the fastest spinning rotation of a Neutron star? I have heard that Neutron stars have a specially fast spinning rotation. What is the fastest?

**Tags:** rotation, neutron-star, speed

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-01-03. Score: 14 | Accepted answer

As it turns out, the fastest spinning neutron star found yet is a [pulsar](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulsar) 18000 light years away in the constelation of Sagittarius which scientist catalogued as [**PSR J1748-2446ad**](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PSR_J1748-2446ad). Pulsars are neutron stars that rotate, are highly magnetic and emit a strong perpendicular beam of electromagnetic radiation.

This pulsar's speed is such that:

> At its equator it is spinning at approximately 24% of the speed of light, or over 70,000 km per second.

**PSR J1748-2446ad** rotates a little over 700 times a second, and scientists have this to say on the theoretical limits of the rotation speed of a pulsar ([from here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millisecond_pulsar)):

> Current theories of neutron star structure and evolution predict that pulsars would break apart if they spun at a rate of ~1500 rotations per second or more, and that at a rate of above about 1000 rotations per second they would lose energy by gravitational radiation faster than the accretion process would speed them up.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Fun experiment. Go here https://meettechniek.info/additional/additive-synthesis.html select Impuls, type the number 716 in the Sound Frequency field, and raise the volume. The sound you're hearing is the rotation frequency of the pulsar PSR J1748-2446ad.  
> **username_4**: Wow, that also means that such an ultrafast rotating NS is essentially a kinetic energy -> gravitational wave converter.  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2019-01-28. Score: 2

The fastest celestial body we know so far is neutron star XTE J1739-285. It rotates 1122 times per second. Source: <https://arxiv.org/abs/0712.4310?fbclid=IwAR2g9RYhybbBlxxzKOfquBa9C33H8mMwuZ_mHZbm1RbcsetrxO3vbvXq7gA>


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