Is there a lighthouse in space pointing towards the Earth?

In an image that has been captured by the James Webb Space Telescope and the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, a nebula in the shape of a lighthouse that is pointed toward the Earth can be seen. The Crab Nebula is a supernova remnant and has also been called the M1. It is 6500 light-years away in the constellation Taurus.

Image:
The image that has been captured combines data from both telescopes and reveals the dense neutron star which is at the center of one of the brightest supernovas in the sky. The crab nebula is what is left of a bright star. In 1054 AD, the viewers on Earth could see the star explode in the night sky. This is called the event of a supernova. This rare event could have been depicted in the coins issued by the Byzantine Empire as well as the Puebloan people in New Mexico. The Supernova left behind a dense cloud of gas.


What does the image reveal?
The James Webb Space Telescope captured the image of the star whereas the data from the Chandra X-Ray shows the nebula’s neutron star changing dramatically over time. Scientists have said that the star inside the crab nebula is called the Pulsar because it rotates 30 times in a second. It sends out a beam of radiation like a lighthouse. The Chandra X-ray captures many instances of radiation and hence many feel that it is like a lighthouse. The X-ray-emitting particles from the poles have also been captured.

The data has been collected for 22 years till 2022. Astronomers have plans. They are hoping to capture more information which will help them uncover more information on this nebula.

FAQs:

1. What is a nebula?
It is a composition of gas and dust in outer space. This has been created by a dying star and is often remnants of it.

2. What is a constellation?
It is a group of stars. They form distinct patterns in the sky.