NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has gazed at the Crab Nebula in the search for answers about the … [+]
The James Webb Space Telescope has returned spectacular new images of perhaps the most famous nebula in the night sky.
The images published today show the Crab Nebula, known as M1, the leftovers of a star exploding as a supernova in the year 1054.
About 6,500 light-years away in the constellation Taurus, the Crab Nebula was captured using JWST’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) and MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) cameras.
On the left is the 2005 Hubble optical wavelength image of the Crab Nebula. On the right is a new … [+]
Different To Hubble
It’s a subtly different image from that obtained by the Hubble Space Telescope back in 2006. JWST’s version—which see only in infrared light,, which humans cannot see—shows more detail in the filaments of gas around it, which look orange in the images. Filters are used to turn data into colorful images.
What makes this image stand out is the wispy nebulosity throughout, which is the result—say astronomers—of JWST imaging emission produced by charged particles moving around magnetic field lines.
The image shows a region about 10 light-years across.
“Webb’s sensitivity and spatial resolution allow us to accurately determine the composition of the ejected material, particularly the content of iron and nickel, which may reveal what type of explosion produced the Crab Nebula,” said Tea Temim at Princeton University.
Nebula Explained
A nebula—the Latin word for cloud—refers to a cloud of interstellar dust and gas. In this case, it refers to the leftovers of a star that went supernova—a planetary nebula—where the remaining core of a collapsed giant star is producing enough energy to make surrounding gas glow.
However, there are other kinds of nebula. The famous Orion Nebula (M42) is a type of diffuse or emission nebula, a region of hot gas and dust where new stars are born. Another type is a reflection nebula, where clouds of dust and gas are lit up by nearby stars. A good example of that is the Pleiades open star cluster (M45), also in the constellation Taurus, which now can be easily seen with the naked eye in the eastern sky after dark.
This picture taken on September 25, 2019 shows The Orion Nebula, also known as Messier 42, M42, or … [+]
Cosmic Catalog
The Crab Nebula is known as M1 because it takes first place in the catalog of 18th-century French astronomer and comet-hunter Charles Messier. His catalog consists of over 100 permanent objects in the night sky that shouldn’t be confused with a passing comet.
The resulting Messier Catalog has remained as a valuable guide for amateur astronomers exploring the deep sky using telescopes to find bright star clusters, galaxies and nebulae such as M1.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
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Jessica Irvine is a tech enthusiast specializing in gadgets. From smart home devices to cutting-edge electronics, Jessica explores the world of consumer tech, offering readers comprehensive reviews, hands-on experiences, and expert insights into the coolest and most innovative gadgets on the market.
