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quasar_4
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Homework Statement
If a neutron star were bright enough to see its surface with a telescope, we'd be able to see not just the hemisphere facing toward us but also part of the far hemisphere. Explain why and estimate the latitude above which the far side could be seen.
Homework Equations
Deflection of light due to gravity
Schwarzschild metric
The Attempt at a Solution
I think I have some understanding of why this occurs - it's just a result of the deflection of light around the neutron star (reflected light on the far hemisphere is deflected around the side of the neutron star, if I'm thinking about this correctly). But what I'm having trouble with is the estimate. In the Schwarzschild geometry, we're dealing with a static, spherical star -- so why the minimum latitude? Shouldn't the light be deflected evenly around the neutron star, regardless of latitude?
And how could I come up with an estimate? I'm a bit perplexed.