Cool Dense Matter and Neutron Star Phenomenology

Neutron star observations offer a novel approach to exploring Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) at high densities and low temperatures. We discuss how the physics of QCD affects the structure and evolution of neutron stars, paying particular attention to heterogeneous phases, quark matter, and neutrino transport. Afterwards, we discuss the status of several types of neutron star observations and what they mean for the physics of dense matter.