glitch
Quick Summary
The term "glitch" in astronomy does not refer to a specific astronomical phenomenon. Instead, a glitch, in its common usage, refers to a minor malfunction or a temporary setback. This term is often used in the context of technology and engineering, such as in spacecraft or electronic systems.1
In astronomy, the closest related concept might be the sudden "glitches" observed in the rotation of some neutron stars. These are not malfunctions but rather abrupt changes in their spin rate. Neutron stars are incredibly dense remnants of massive stars, typically about 20 km in diameter, with masses around 1.35 times that of the Sun. They possess extremely strong magnetic fields and rotate rapidly, sometimes emitting pulses of radiation that are detected as pulsars. When a neutron star glitches, its rotation speeds up slightly, a phenomenon that scientists are still working to fully understand.2
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
pulsarPeriod changes…period changes, which are called glitches, in which the period suddenly increases and then gradually decreases to its pre-glitch value. Some glitches are caused by “starquakes,” or sudden cracks in the rigid iron crust of the star. Others are caused by an interaction between the crust and the more fluid…
Read More…period changes, which are called glitches, in which the period suddenly increases and then gradually decreases to its pre-glitch value. Some glitches are caused by “starquakes,” or sudden cracks in the rigid iron crust of the star. Others are caused by an interaction between the crust and the more fluid…
Read More
starNeutron stars…a period change or “glitch” can be explained if the pulsar altered its radius by about one centimetre; this sudden shrinkage of the crust is sometimes called a “starquake.” Pulsar phenomena apparently last much longer than the observable supernova remnants in which they were born, since well more than…
Read More…a period change or “glitch” can be explained if the pulsar altered its radius by about one centimetre; this sudden shrinkage of the crust is sometimes called a “starquake.” Pulsar phenomena apparently last much longer than the observable supernova remnants in which they were born, since well more than…
Read More