M1: The Exploding Crab Nebula
Credit & Copyright: AATB,
Caltech, David Malin, Jay
Pasachoff
Explanation:
The
Crab Nebula resulted from a star that
exploded - a
supernova. The outer
layers of the star were thrown violently into space, while the inner core
collapsed to form a
neutron star. This
neutron star is visible to us today as a
pulsar - a rotating star
at the center of the nebula that emits
visible flashes of light. The
Crab Pulsar flashes about 30 times every
second. Although the stellar explosion that caused the Crab Nebula was
seen over 900 years ago, the nebula itself still expands and shines. How
the nebula obtains the energy needed to shine was a mystery eventually
solved by noting that this energy could be released by the slowing of the
pulsar's rotation.
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.
