From public databases to the classroom: investigating neutron stars with spreadsheets

Abstract Neutron stars, most prominently observed as radio pulsars, are among the most intriguing astrophysical objects because of their periodic emission of electromagnetic radiation. Traditionally, studying pulsar profiles requires access to large radio telescopes and specialized data-processing tools, making such research inaccessible in most educational settings. This work demonstrates that publicly available pulsar data from the EPN Database of Pulsar Profiles can be effectively imported, processed, and visualized using spreadsheet software, a widely accessible tool for data analysis. By applying straightforward data-handling techniques, students can reproduce pulsar profiles such as those of the Vela and Crab pulsars, and explore fundamental concepts including polarization, multiple pulse components, and the geometry of pulsar emission. This approach highlights a cost-effective and pedagogically valuable method for integrating pulsar research into the classroom while simultaneously building computational literacy and data-analysis skills.