The Crab Nebula is the result of a bright supernova explosion seen by Chinese and other astronomers in the year 1054 A.D. Since it was launched aboard the Space Shuttle in 1999, the Chandra X-ray Observatory has looked at the Crab many times. X-ray data reveal a spinning, super-magnetic dense star that creates jets of matter and antimatter and a blizzard of energetic particles. A new image combines X-rays from Chandra (blue and white) with optical data from Hubble (purple) and infrared data from Spitzer (pink). This composite adds to a scientific legacy, spanning nearly two decades, between Chandra and the Crab Nebula.
