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Crab Nebula
X-Rays, Chandra, and the Crab Nebula
The Crab Nebula has continually surprised us over the centuries. Although visible
for almost 1000 years, it ceaselessly changes its appearance and structure. With
the advent of satellites that can probe different parts of the electromagnetic
spectrum, we have increased our knowledge of this strange object manyfold.
One of the most unusual discoveries was that the optical filaments of the nebula
are apparently still being accelerated almost a millenium after the initial
explosion! Imagine a bicycle that goes even faster after you stop pedalling!
Clearly something has to be providing more energy to both the bicycle and the
Crab Nebula for this to happen.
When we look at the Nebula in a different light, we can examine different
physical processes that may exist there. X-ray telescopes provide such a
possibility. Because of their higher energies, the X-ray emission gives us a
different look at the Nebula.
Crab Nebula
Credit: NASA/CXC/SAO
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In the amazingly detailed image shown here from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, we
see that high-energy X-rays are concentrated toward the center of the nebula.
Spectacular ring-like structures around the central pulsar are visible, as are
jets blasting away from the pulsar perpendicular to the rings.
As scientists continue their study of the Crab, the new Chandra data will provide
an important piece of evidence to the puzzle of how the pulsar's power gets into
the Crab Nebula. You can be sure that there will be some surprises in store for
us. Stay tuned for the results!
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