M1: The Crab Nebula from Hubble [apod.nasa.gov]
This is the mess that is left when a star explodes.
The Crab Nebula, the result of a supernova seen in 1054 AD, is filled with mysterious filaments.
The filaments are not only tremendously complex, but appear to have less mass than expelled in the original supernova and a higher speed than expected from a free explosion.
The featured image, taken by the Hubble Space Telescope, is presented in three colors chosen for scientific interest.
The Crab Nebula spans about 10 light-years.
In the nebula's very center lies a pulsar: a neutron star as massive as the Sun but with only the size of a small town.
The Crab Pulsar rotates about 30 times each second.
Discovery + Outreach: Graduate student research position open for APOD
