Combined X-Ray and Optical Images of the Crab Nebula

stsci_2002-24a September 19th, 2002

Credit: NASA/HST/ASU/J. Hester et al.

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 electrons as they move.

Provider: Space Telescope Science Institute

Image Source: https://hubblesite.org/contents/news-releases/2002/news-2002-24

Curator: STScI, Baltimore, MD, USA

Image Use Policy: http://hubblesite.org/copyright/

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Image Details

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

Distance

6,000 light years

Position Details

Position (ICRS): RA = 5h 34m 33.1s; DEC = 22° 1’ 2.2”
Orientation: North is 0.5° CW
Field of View: 2.2 x 2.2 arcminutes
Constellation: Taurus

Color Mapping

Telescope	Spectral Band	Wavelength
CXO (ACIS-S)	Optical (V)	547.0 nm
Hubble (WFPC2)	X-ray	-

ID: 2002-24a
Subject Category: B.4.1.4
Subject Name: Crab Nebula, M1, NGC 1952
Credits: NASA/HST/ASU/J. Hester et al.

Release Date: 2002-09-19T00:00:00
Lightyears: 6,000
Redshift: 6,000
Reference Url: https://hubblesite.org/contents/news-releases/2002/news-2002-24

Type: Observation
Image Quality: Good
Distance Notes: Distance in Lightyears

Facility: CXO, Hubble
Instrument: ACIS-S, WFPC2
Color Assignment: Blue, Red

Band: Optical, X-ray
Bandpass: V, -
Central Wavelength: 547, -

Start Time
Integration Time
Dataset ID
Notes

Coordinate Frame: ICRS
Equinox: 2000.0
Reference Value: 83.63775531056, 22.01729061750
Reference Dimension: 2400.00, 2400.00

Reference Pixel: 818.78248282451, 1272.29492058707
Scale: -0.00001533738, 0.00001533738
Rotation: -0.46624591884
Coordinate System Projection:: TAN

Quality: Full
FITS Header
Notes: World Coordinate System resolved using PinpointWCS 0.9.2 revision 218+ by the Chandra X-ray Center FITS X FITS Y EPO X EPO Y 1240.00 934.19 1120.49 869.34 1024.25 1112.23 726.38 1197.76 1198.10 1137.36 1043.21 1240.26 1223.24 1307.02 1084.42 1545.00 Center Pixel Coordinates: 1200.00 83.63145468581 1200.00 22.01611302364

Creator (Curator): STScI
URL: http://hubblesite.org
Name: Space Telescope Science Institute Office of Public Outreach
Email: outreach@stsci.edu

Telephone: 410-338-4444
Address: 3700 San Martin Drive
City: Baltimore
State/Province: MD

Postal Code: 21218
Country: USA
Rights: http://hubblesite.org/copyright/

Publisher: STScI
Publisher ID: stsci
Resource ID: STSCI-H-p0224a-f-2400x2400.tif

Resource URL: https://mast.stsci.edu/api/latest/Download/file?uri=mast:OPO/product/STSCI-H-p0224a-f-2400x2400.tif
Related Resources: http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2002/24

Metadata Date: 2022-07-06T00:00:00
Metadata Version: 1.2

Detailed color mapping information coming soon...

6,000 light years