Nexstars

Nexstars is a term used in speculative astronomy and in science-fiction literature to denote a class of compact stellar remnants. In these contexts, Nexstars are described as objects that occupy a middle ground between neutron stars and black holes, possessing extreme densities, rapid rotation, and ultra-strong magnetic fields. They are typically imagined to form through catastrophic mergers or exotic evolutionary paths that bypass standard supernova endpoints.

Physical characteristics commonly attributed to Nexstars include masses in roughly 1.5–3 solar masses, radii on the order of 10 kilometers, and surface gravities far exceeding those of ordinary neutron stars. Magnetic fields are often depicted as reaching magnetar-like intensities, enabling intense X-ray or gamma-ray emission and, in some portrayals, relativistic jets.

Observers and theorists in real-world astrophysics use Nexstars as a conceptual shorthand in speculative discussions, but the term is not part of established catalogs or consensus models. No confirmed observational evidence currently designates an object as a Nexstar; some proposed candidates in literature remain unverified.

In popular culture, Nexstars appear in various science-fiction franchises and fan discussions as extreme compact objects with unique observational signatures that challenge existing classification schemes for compact objects.