In the Heart of the Crab
Explanation:
The
supernova explosion that formed the
Crab Nebula was
first seen on the year 1054.
Last week, astronomers
released a new image of the
still-evolving center of the explosion.
The
above representative-color photograph
was taken in colors emitted by specific
elements including
hydrogen (orange),
nitrogen (red),
sulfur (pink), and
oxygen (green), with the result appearing oddly similar to a
Jackson Pollock painting.
Visible is a complex array of gas
filaments rushing out at
over 5 million kilometers per hour.
Even at these tremendous speeds, though, it takes a
filament over 600 years to cross the 3
light year wide frame.
The rapidly spinning
neutron star
remnant of this
ancient cataclysm is visible as the lower of the
two bright stars just above the
photograph center.
The
Crab Nebula
(
M1) is located 6,500 light-years
away towards the
constellation of
Taurus.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
