APOD: M1: The Crab Nebula from Hubble (2018 Sep 09)

Comments and questions about the APOD on the main view screen.
User avatar
APOD Robot
Otto Posterman
Posts: 5605
Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2009 3:27 am

APOD: M1: The Crab Nebula from Hubble (2018 Sep 09)

Post by APOD Robot » Sun Sep 09, 2018 4:05 am

Image M1: The Crab Nebula from Hubble

Explanation: 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. The filaments are not only tremendously complex, but appear to have less mass than expelled in the original supernova and a higher speed than expected from a free explosion. The featured image, taken by the Hubble Space Telescope, is presented in three colors chosen for scientific interest. The Crab Nebula spans about 10 light-years. In the nebula's very center lies a pulsar: a neutron star as massive as the Sun but with only the size of a small town. The Crab Pulsar rotates about 30 times each second.

<< Previous APOD This Day in APOD Next APOD >>

sunson

Re: APOD: M1: The Crab Nebula from Hubble (2018 Sep 09)

Post by sunson » Sun Sep 09, 2018 2:42 pm

I think a more appropriate name would be The Sponge Nebula.

zendae1

Re: APOD: M1: The Crab Nebula from Hubble (2018 Sep 09)

Post by zendae1 » Sun Sep 09, 2018 3:26 pm

Or the Turquoise Nebula. It's not a mess to me, it's beautiful. And our Solar System would be less than a dot within it. Amazing what comes out of a star.

dlw
Ensign
Posts: 89
Joined: Fri Jul 22, 2005 4:43 pm
Location: California

Re: APOD: M1: The Crab Nebula from Hubble (2018 Sep 09)

Post by dlw » Sun Sep 09, 2018 5:09 pm

Is it possible to indicate the location of the M1 pulsar within this image?

Also, it may be pure mental projection but I perceive several 'bow shock waves' near the center of the M1 debris.

User avatar
Chris Peterson
Abominable Snowman
Posts: 18620
Joined: Wed Jan 31, 2007 11:13 pm
Location: Guffey, Colorado, USA

Re: APOD: M1: The Crab Nebula from Hubble (2018 Sep 09)

Post by Chris Peterson » Sun Sep 09, 2018 9:39 pm

dlw wrote: Sun Sep 09, 2018 5:09 pm Is it possible to indicate the location of the M1 pulsar within this image?
With the narrowband imaging, stars have most of their light eliminated. You can't easily see the pulsar in the image. But it's very close to the crosshairs I've added here.
_
CrabNebula_Hubble_Pulsar.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Chris

*****************************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
https://www.cloudbait.com

User avatar
neufer
Vacationer at Tralfamadore
Posts: 18805
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:57 pm
Location: Alexandria, Virginia

Re: APOD: M1: The Crab Nebula from Hubble (2018 Sep 09)

Post by neufer » Sun Sep 09, 2018 9:49 pm

Click to play embedded YouTube video.
dlw wrote: Sun Sep 09, 2018 5:09 pm
Is it possible to indicate the location of the M1 pulsar within this image?
Art Neuendorffer

User avatar
alter-ego
Serendipitous Sleuthhound
Posts: 1123
Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2008 4:51 am
Location: Redmond, WA

Re: APOD: M1: The Crab Nebula from Hubble (2018 Sep 09)

Post by alter-ego » Mon Sep 10, 2018 2:37 am

Chris Peterson wrote: Sun Sep 09, 2018 9:39 pm
dlw wrote: Sun Sep 09, 2018 5:09 pm Is it possible to indicate the location of the M1 pulsar within this image?
With the narrowband imaging, stars have most of their light eliminated. You can't easily see the pulsar in the image. But it's very close to the crosshairs I've added here.
_
CrabNebula_Hubble_Pulsar.jpg
As you say, it is not easily seen, but I've pin-pointed the 16.5 magnitude pulsar.
For scaling reasons, I cropped the original image slightly.
Crab Pulsar Located.JPG
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
A pessimist is nothing more than an experienced optimist