Let's talk about the planets Draugar (psr b1257+12A), Poltergeist (psr b1257+12 B) and Phobetor (psr b1257+12C). Poltergeist and Phobetor were discovered on the 22nd January 1992, in the constellation of Virgo by Aleksander Wolszczan. Draugar is the smallest planet we’ve ever discovered. While Poltergeist is the first ever planet discovered, outside our solar system. All three, orbit the neutron star called Lich. With names linking them to undead monsters, it reflects how extremely hostile these planets are.
A part of these planets interesting name, is linked to the fact that they all orbit a Pulsar star. First let me explain, neutron stars are formed by a gravitational collapse of a star. These stars are too small to become a black hole so are the leftover of a supernova. A pulsar is a neutron star or a white dwarf that is rotating and emitting beams of electromagnetic radiation. In short Lich is a collapsed core of a star and it's constantly spinning and emitting excessive radiation from both of its poles.
It confused scientist for years how these planets could exist and survive a supernova. The planetary system is thought to be the result of two white dwarfs (stars with not enough mass to become a neutron star) merged together, which caused a ring of material that formed the planets. Another theory is, the system had two suns but when Lich went into supernova it destroyed its partner star. It’s thought that the second star became the remaining particles, to create these three planets.
If any planets existed before and had living life or an atmosphere, it was stripped away by the super nova’s shock wave. Life as we know it still wouldn’t stand a chance here. As the undead star is bathing, these dead planets in a constant deadly wash of radiation.