M1: The Crab Nebula from the Hubble Space Telescope
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 that appear to have less mass than expelled in the original supernova and a higher speed than expected from a free explosion. The Crab Nebula spans about 10 light-years. In the nebula's very center lies a pulsar: a neutron star as massive a neutron star as massive as the Sun but with only the size of a small town.
Join the Discussion