Two X-ray images of the Crab Nebula (M1,NGC 1952) taken by the Einstein Observatory X-ray satellite,showing the Crab Pulsar in its on & off phases. The Crab Nebula is a supernova remnant about 6000 light years away in the constellation of Taurus. It is the remnant of a catastrophic stellar explosion observed by Chinese & Japanese astron- omers in 1054 AD. The bright spot on the left image is the pulsar,a rapidly spinning neutron star which is the tiny,dense remnant of the star which exploded. The pulsar is only 10 km in radius & rotates 30 times each second,flashing each time one of the magnetic poles points towards Earth | |
Licence : | Droits gérés |
Crédit: | Science Photo Library / Smithsonian Institution |
Taille de l’image : | 3771 px × 2480 px |
Model Release : | Non requis |
Property Release : | Non requis |
Restrictions : | - |