NASA’s Webb and Chandra telescopes reveal stunning images of the Crab Nebula
NASA’s Webb and Chandra space telescopes have unveiled stunning images of the Crab Nebula, located at a distance of 6500 light-years from Earth. Astronomers combined data from these telescopes to investigate the neutron star inside the nebula.
Unique image created by merging infrared and X-ray data
By merging the infrared data from the Webb telescope and the X-ray data from the Chandra telescope, scientists created a unique image of the Crab Nebula. This allowed them to gather more information about the neutron star at the center of this bright supernova remnant.
Birth of the Crab Nebula and its neutron star
The supernova explosion that occurred in 1054 gave birth to the Crab Nebula. This remnant includes a neutron star that spins on its axis at a rate of approximately 30 times per second. The Chandra telescope detected bursts of radiation from this star, indicating its energetic activity.
Future observations of the pulsar
Astronomers plan to continue observing the pulsar later this year, hoping to detect further changes in its activity.
