Crab Nebula
Supernova's crustacean cloud
The Crab Nebula is a supernova remnant in the constellation Taurus, visible through small telescopes as a faint, diffuse patch of light.
It resulted from a stellar explosion observed by Chinese and Arab astronomers in 1054 CE—bright enough to be visible in daylight for weeks.
The nebula contains a rapidly spinning neutron star (pulsar) at its center: The Crab Nebula is one of the most studied objects in astronomy.
Very thin threads
- tendrilsSlender coiling growths
- ionized gasElectrically charged atomic matter
- heliumLightest noble gas
- hydrogenSimplest atomic element
sulfur · oxygen · wisps · magnetic fields · light-years · blue glow
Material ejected by dying star
- guest starTemporary celebrity cast member
- historical recordsPreserved accounts of the past
- petroglyphsCarvings on natural stone
- AnasaziAncient Southwestern cliff-dwelling people
Ultradense stellar remnant
- rotationTurning on an axis
- magnetic fieldForce zone around magnets
- pulsesRhythmic throbs or edible legumes
- millisecondTiny time unit
Instrument magnifying faraway objects
- HubbleRenowned astronomer's surname
- ChandraSanskrit word for moon
- James WebbOrbital infrared observatory
- X-rayPenetrating diagnostic beam
gamma-ray · radio · infrared · visible light · spectroscopy · imaging · time-lapse · variability
filaments
Very thin threads
- tendrilsSlender coiling growths
- ionized gasElectrically charged atomic matter
- heliumLightest noble gas
hydrogen · sulfur · oxygen · wisps · magnetic fields · light-years · blue glow
supernova remnant
Material ejected by dying star
- guest starTemporary celebrity cast member
- historical recordsPreserved accounts of the past
- petroglyphsCarvings on natural stone
neutron star
Ultradense stellar remnant
- rotationTurning on an axis
- magnetic fieldForce zone around magnets
- pulsesRhythmic throbs or edible legumes
telescope
Instrument magnifying faraway objects
- HubbleRenowned astronomer's surname
- ChandraSanskrit word for moon
- James WebbOrbital infrared observatory
X-ray · gamma-ray · radio · infrared · visible light · spectroscopy · imaging · time-lapse · variability
textbook example
Ideal illustrative instance
- Carl Sagan
- astrophotographyImaging celestial objects
- nebulae
- Celestial Objectsstars, planets, moons, comets, galaxies
- cosmic objectsstars, galaxies, nebulae, pulsars, quasars
- space objectsgalaxy, star cluster, planet, quasar, star
- space photosgalaxy, supernova, black hole, star cluster, solar eclipse
- Astrophotographyastrophotography, star trails, eclipse photos, Hubble images, deep sky
Crab NebulaAndromeda Galaxy
Nearest major spiral neighbor
Milky Way · galaxy · quasar · black hole · solar system
crab, crabby, crabs, nebulous, nebula, crabbed, crabbing, crabapple, nebulizer