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Credit & Copyright: Chandra X-ray Observatory,
NASA
Explanation:
Why does the Crab Nebula
still glow? In the year 1054 A.D. a
supernova
was observed that left a nebula that even today
glows brightly in every color possible, across the entire electromagnetic spectrum.
At the nebula's center is an ultra-dense
neutron star
that rotates 30 times a second.
The power liberated as this
neutron star slows its rotation matches
the power radiated by the
Crab Nebula.
The above picture by the recently launched
Chandra X-Ray Observatory
shows new details of the nebula's center in X-ray light, yielding important clues to how the
neutron star powers the nebula.
Visible are rings of
high-energy particles that are being flung outward near
light-speed from the center, and powerful
jets emerging from the poles.
Astrophysicists continue to study and learn from this
unusual engine
which continually transfers 30 million times more power than
lightning
at nearly perfect
efficiency.
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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: jet - Crab Nebula
Publications with words: jet - Crab Nebula
See also:
- M1: The Incredible Expanding Crab
- M1: The Crab Nebula
- APOD: 2023 September 19 Á HH 211: Jets from a Forming Star
- The Galaxy, the Jet, and a Famous Black Hole
- APOD: 2023 March 20 Á M1: The Expanding Crab Nebula
- APOD: 2023 January 15 Á M1: The Crab Nebula from Hubble
- Stars, Dust, Pillars, and Jets in the Pelican Nebula