CRAB NEBULA
In the year
1054 A.D., Chinese astronomers were startled by the appearance of
a new star, so bright that it was visible in broad daylight for several weeks.
Today, the Crab Nebula is visible at the site of that bright star. Located about
6,500 light-years from Earth, the Crab Nebula is the remnant of a star that
began its life with about 10 times the mass of our Sun. Its life ended on July
4, 1054 when it exploded as a supernova. The Crab Nebula still presents
mysteries today as the total mass of the nebula and pulsar appears much less
than the mass of the original pre-supernova star! In this image, the Hubble
telescope has zoomed in on the center of the Crab to reveal its structure with
unprecedented detail.
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