NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has captured a breathtaking image of the Crab Nebula, revealing its intricate structure and the bright neutron star at its core. The image showcases the nebula in a vibrant green hue and highlights the intense energy released by the dying star.
The Crab Nebula, a cosmic remnant of a supernova explosion that occurred in 1054 AD, continues to evolve before our very eyes. Thanks to the combined data from both the Hubble Space Telescope and the Chandra X-ray Observatory, astronomers have captured new insights into the dense neutron star at the nebula’s center, a celestial lighthouse known as a pulsar. Over time, the pulsar’s energy has unleashed a shockwave that is now plowing through the surrounding nebula, creating a mesmerizing ring-like structure. The latest data from Chandra also unveils the pulsar’s dynamic X-ray jet, which exhibits a whip-like movement. This fascinating cosmic dance is providing scientists with valuable clues about the evolution of neutron stars and the aftermath of supernovae.
Scientists have discovered a new magnetic star, or magnetar, in the M82 galaxy, approximately 12 million light-years from Earth. This powerful star, which emits violent bursts of energy, is a rapidly moving neutron star resulting from the collapse of a dying star. The discovery was made using the European Space Agency’s telescope and published in the journal Nature. Such stellar explosions are rare, with only three recorded in the past 50 years.
