This 2018 composite of the Crab Nebula was made with data from the Chandra X-Ray
Observatory (blue and
white), Hubble Space Telescope (purple), and Spitzer Space
Telescope (pink). The
star that exploded to create the Crab Nebula was first seen from Earth in 1054
A.D.
Since its launch
in 1999, Chandra has frequently observed the nebula and x-ray observations have
helped astronomers better understand this spectacular object. The Crab Nebula
was one of the first objects that Chandra examined with its
sharp X-ray vision, and it has been a frequent target of the
telescope ever since.
There are many
reasons that the Crab Nebula is such a well-studied object: it is one of a
handful of cases where there is strong historical evidence for when
the star exploded. Having this definitive timeline helps astronomers understand
the details of the explosion and its aftermath.
In the case of
the Crab, observers in several countries reported the appearance of a “new
star” in 1054 A.D. in the direction of the constellation Taurus. Much has
been learned about the Crab in the centuries since then. Today, astronomers
know that the Crab Nebula is powered by a quickly spinning, highly magnetized
neutron star called a pulsar, which was formed when a massive star ran out
of its nuclear fuel and collapsed. The combination of rapid rotation and a
strong magnetic field in the Crab generates an intense electromagnetic field
that creates jets of matter and anti-matter moving away from both the
north and south poles of the pulsar, and an intense wind flowing out in the
equatorial direction.
Image & info via NASA
Image Credit: X-ray:
NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: NASA/STScI; Infrared: NASA-JPL-Caltech
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