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Credit & Copyright: Alan Chen
Explanation:
This is the mess that is left when a star explodes.
The
Crab Nebula, the result of a
supernova
seen in
1054 AD,
is filled with
mysterious filaments.
The filaments are not only
tremendously complex but appear to have
less mass than expelled in the original supernova and a
higher speed than expected from a free explosion.
The featured image was taken by an amateur astronomer in
Leesburg,
Florida,
USA over three nights last month.
It was captured in
three primary colors
but with extra detail provided by
specific emission
by hydrogen gas.
The Crab Nebula spans about 10
light years.
In the Nebula's very center lies a pulsar: a neutron star as massive as the Sun but
with only the size of a
small town.
The Crab Pulsar rotates about 30 times each second.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Crab Nebula - supernova
Publications with words: Crab Nebula - supernova
See also:
- APOD: 2025 November 5 Á Spiral Galaxy NGC 3370 from Hubble
- APOD: 2025 August 24 Á The Spinning Pulsar of the Crab Nebula
- APOD: 2025 July 31 Á Supernova 2025rbs in NGC 7331
- M1: The Incredible Expanding Crab
- APOD: 2024 July 23 Á The Crab Nebula from Visible to X Ray
- M1: The Crab Nebula
- APOD: 2023 October 11 Á NGC 1097: Spiral Galaxy with Supernova