A neutron star is a type of compact star that can result from the gravitational collapse of a

massive star after a supernova. Neutron stars are the densest and smallest stars known to exist in
the Universe; with a radius of only about 1111.5 km (7 miles), they can have a mass of about twice
that of the Sun.
Neutron stars are composed almost entirely of neutrons, which are subatomic particles with no
net electrical charge and with slightly larger mass than protons. Neutron stars are very hot and are
supported against further collapse by quantum degeneracy pressuredue to the phenomenon
described by the Pauli exclusion principle, which states that no two neutrons (or any
other fermionicparticles) can occupy the same place and quantum state simultaneously.
A neutron star has a mass of at least 1.1 and perhaps up to 3 solar masses (M),[1][2] though the
highest observed mass is 2.01 MNeutron stars typically have a surface temperature
around 6105 K.[3][4][5][6][a] Neutron stars have overall densities
of 3.71017 to5.91017 kg/m3 (2.61014 to 4.11014 times the density of the Sun),[b] which is
comparable to the approximate density of an atomic nucleus of 31017 kg/m3.[7] The neutron star's
density varies from below 1109 kg/m3 in the crustincreasing with depthto
above61017 or 81017 kg/m3 deeper inside (denser than an atomic nucleus).[8] A normal-sized
matchbox containing neutron-star material would have a mass of approximately 5 trillion tons or
1000 km3 of Earth rock.