Inbox Astronomy: Investigating the Origins of the Crab Nebula With NASA's Webb

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

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.

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

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