What describes a neutron star?

A neutron star is accurately described as a small, extremely dense star. This stellar remnant occurs when a massive star has exhausted its nuclear fuel and undergoes a supernova explosion, resulting in the collapse of its core. The immense gravitational forces compress the core material to such an extent that protons and electrons combine to form neutrons, leading to a star that is primarily composed of neutrons.

Neutron stars have incredibly high densities, with a mass greater than that of the Sun compressed into a sphere with a radius of about 10 kilometers. This results in an extraordinarily strong gravitational field and significant surface gravity. Their density is so extreme that a sugar-cube-sized amount of neutron-star material would weigh about as much as a mountain on Earth. This unique structure and composition distinguish neutron stars from other types of stars and celestial objects.