Crab Nebula
It is not uncommon to see a nebula with various colors spread around it. However, the Crab Nebula is certainly one of the most beautiful nebulae you will ever come across. How did this nebula come to be? It is actually a supernova remnant and pulsar wind nebula. That is a lot to unpack, so let’s explain. A supernova remnant is the result of a supernova explosion, where remnants are bounded by an expanding shockwave. All of the ejected material expands from that explosion. As this expansion occurs, it will collect other interstellar material which will also be swept up in the shock along the way.
Meanwhile, a pulsar wind nebula is often found inside the shell of supernova remnants. They are powered by the winds generated by the central pulsar itself and happen to have extreme radiation, including infrared, optical, x-ray, and gamma-ray sources. It is actually the brightest known gamma-ray source we can see near us. The Crab Nebula’s magnitude is around the size of Saturn’s Titan moon. It might not be visible to the naked eye, but can be seen through proper professional telescopes. The Crab Nebula image is certainly beautiful, and one of the most breathtaking photos captured by NASA and the ESA.