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Heart of the Crab NebulaIn the year 1054 A.D., Chinese
astronomers were startled by the appearance of a new star, so bright
that it was visible in broad daylight for several weeks. Today, the
Crab Nebula is visible at the site of that bright star. Located about
6,500 light-years from Earth, the Crab Nebula is the remnant of a star
that began its life with about 10 times the mass of our Sun. Its life
ended on July 4, 1054 when it exploded as a supernova. In this image,
the Hubble telescope has zoomed in on the center of the Crab to reveal
its structure with unprecedented detail. |
Photographs and astronomical descriptions courtesy of NASA and AURA/STScI Tales of the Immortal Night ©2003, J.J. Kuhl Website designed by Business eSolutions Contact them at info@business-esolutions.com |