Anaglyphs: Astronomy: Magnetar stereo 3D image

This image is an anaglyph in which a stereo image pair is combined into a single image using colour to separate the two views. To see the 3D stereo effect, you will need to use red green colour filter glasses (red for your left eye and green for your right eye). Such glasses can be obtained from your optometrist or specialty supplier. It is worth obtaining high quality anaglyphic glasses to achieve the best possible sense of depth. Cheap filters can often be found in novelty 3-D books. SEE HOW ANAGLYPHS ARE MADE.

3D computer model of a Magnetar. Magnetars are rapidly spinning ultra-magnetic neutron stars (period between 3 and 12 seconds) that undergo high energy flare events which are caused by "starquakes". As their monstruous quadrillion gauss magnetic field shifts, this deformes and cracks the stellar crust making it emit flashes of soft gamma rays. The magnetar (yellow star) is in the picture plane and front magnetic field lines emerge from the screen. If you gaze at the star field in the background for a while the 3D effect becomes quite interesting!