Space Science Update: Movie Reveals Shocking Secrets of the Crab Pulsar

Combined X-Ray and Optical Images of the Crab Nebula

A composite image of the Crab Nebula showing the X-ray (blue), and optical (red) images superimposed. The size of the X-ray image is smaller because the higher energy X-ray emitting electrons radiate away their energy more quickly than the lower energy optically emitting...

6 Panel of Chandra and Hubble, Full Field

This comparison between the Chandra (left) and Hubble (right) images of the Crab Nebula shows 3 sets of full field views.

6 Panel of Chandra and Hubble, Close Up

This close up view of the Chandra (left) and Hubble (right) images shows the motion of the wisps in 3 sets of the Crab Nebula joint observations.

Time-Lapse Sequence of Crab Pulsar Wind

This movie shows dynamic rings, wisps and jets of matter and antimatter around the pulsar in the Crab Nebula as observed in X-ray light by Chandra (left, blue) and optical light by Hubble (right, red).

Time-Lapse Sequence of the Crab Nebula

The movie shows dynamic rings, wisps and jets of matter and antimatter around the pulsar in the Crab Nebula as observed in optical light by Hubble.