INBOX ASTRONOMY

Investigating the Origins of the Crab Nebula With NASA's Webb

Release date: Monday, June 17, 2024 10:00:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Investigating the Origins of the Crab Nebula With NASA's Webb



New data revises our view of this unusual supernova explosion.

The Crab Nebula is a nearby example of the debris left behind when a star undergoes a violent death in a supernova explosion. However, despite decades of study, this supernova remnant continues to maintain a degree of mystery: What type of star was responsible for the creation of the Crab Nebula, and what was the nature of the explosion?

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has provided a new view of the Crab, including the highest-quality infrared data yet available to aid scientists as they explore the detailed structure and chemical composition of the remnant. These clues are helping to unravel the unusual way that the star exploded about 1,000 years ago.



  Read more  

Find additional articles, images, and videos at WebbTelescope.org



  Please do not reply to this message.
You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to the Inbox Astronomy mailing list.
 
Produced by the Space Telescope Science Institute's Office of Public Outreach