Multiwavelength Astronomy Multimedia


Title

Optical Crab Nebula

Description

The Crab Nebula, some 6,000 light years from Earth, is the remnant of a supernova explosion. It was seen on Earth in the year 1054. At the center of the bright nebula is a rapidly spinning neutron star, or pulsar, that emits pulses of radiation 30 times a second. This view shows the Crab in the optical wavelength.

Facility

Palomar Observatory

Instrument

Palomar 60-inch

Subject

  • Crab Nebula
  • Nebula

Spectral Type

Optical

Credits

SEDS/Palomar Observatory

Type

Observation

Associated Lesson

X-ray Impact

This material is based upon work supported by NASA under Grant Nos. NNX09AD33G and NNX10AE80G issued through the SMD ROSES 2009 Program.

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