Crab Nebula Supernova Remnant (Spitzer/IRAC Image)

Spitzer_sig05-003a_1024

spitzer_sig05-003a June 1st, 2005

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Gehrz (University of Minnesota)

The Crab Nebula is the shattered remnant of a massive star that ended its life in a massive supernova explosion. Nearly a thousand years old, the supernova was noted in the constellation of Taurus by Chinese astronomers in the year 1054 AD.

This view of the supernova remnant obtained by the Spitzer Space Telescope shows the infrared view of this complex object. The blue-white region traces the cloud of energetic electrons trapped within the star's magnetic field, emitting so-called "synchrotron" radiation. The red features follow the well-known filamentary structures that permeate this nebula. Though they are known to contain hot gasses, their exact nature is still a mystery that astronomers are examining.

The energetic cloud of electrons are driven by a rapidly rotating neutron star, or pulsar, at its core. The nebula is about 6,500 light-years away from the Earth, and is 5 light-years across.

This false-color image presents images from Spitzer's Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) at 3.6 (blue), 4.5 (green), and 8.0 (red) microns.

Provider: Spitzer Space Telescope

Image Source: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/2334-sig05-003a-Crab-Nebula-Supernova-Remnant-Spitzer-IRAC-Image-

Curator: Spitzer Space Telescope, Pasadena, CA, USA

Image Use Policy: Public Domain

Image Details

Image Type
Observation
Object Name
Crab Nebula Messier 1 M1 NGC 1952
Subject - Milky Way
Nebula > Type > Supernova Remnant

Distance

Universescale1
6,300 light years
Spitzer_sig05-003a_128
 

Position Details

Position (ICRS)
RA = 5h 34m 23.8s
DEC = 22° 3’ 55.0”
Orientation
North is 1.3° CCW
Field of View
8.8 x 8.8 arcminutes
Constellation
Taurus

Color Mapping

  Telescope Spectral Band Wavelength
Blue Spitzer (IRAC) Infrared (Near-IR) 3.6 µm
Green Spitzer (IRAC) Infrared (Near-IR) 4.5 µm
Red Spitzer (IRAC) Infrared (Mid-IR) 8.0 µm
Spectrum_base
Blue
Green
Red
Spitzer_sig05-003a_1280
×
ID
sig05-003a
Subject Category
B.4.1.4.  
Subject Name
Crab Nebula, Messier 1, M1, NGC 1952
Credits
NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Gehrz (University of Minnesota)
Type
Observation
Image Quality
Good
Distance Notes
Distance from Quickfacts
Facility
Spitzer, Spitzer, Spitzer
Instrument
IRAC, IRAC, IRAC
Color Assignment
Blue, Green, Red
Band
Infrared, Infrared, Infrared
Bandpass
Near-IR, Near-IR, Mid-IR
Central Wavelength
3600, 4500, 8000
Start Time
Integration Time
Dataset ID
Notes
Coordinate Frame
ICRS
Equinox
J2000
Reference Value
83.5991627865, 22.0652841412
Reference Dimension
2700, 2700
Reference Pixel
1852.07870483, 2238.462005615
Scale
-5.4509008380871E-05, 5.4509008380871E-05
Rotation
1.275969547776
Coordinate System Projection:
TAN
Quality
Full
FITS Header
Notes
Creator (Curator)
Spitzer Space Telescope
URL
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu
Name
Spitzer Space Telescope
Email
Telephone
Address
1200 E. California Blvd.
City
Pasadena
State/Province
CA
Postal Code
91125
Country
USA
Rights
Public Domain
Publisher
Spitzer Science Center
Publisher ID
spitzer
Resource ID
sig05-003a.tif
Metadata Date
2012-10-11
Metadata Version
1.1
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Detailed color mapping information coming soon...

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Universescalefull
6,300 light years

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