Combined X-Ray and Optical Images of the Crab Nebula

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.

About the colours

Blue (X-ray): ACIS-S Red (Optical): WFPC2 F547M

About the data

Principal Astronomers: J. Hester and P. Scowen (ASU), C. Michel (Rice U.), J. Graham (UC Berkeley), J. Gallagher (U. of Wisconsin-Madison), A. Watson (UNAM - Morelia), R. Sankrit (JHU) J. Hester (ASU), K. Mori (Penn State U. and Osaka U.), D. Burrows (Penn State Univ.), J. Gallagher (U. of Wisconsin-Madison), J. Graham (UC Berkeley), M. Halverson (U. of Wisconsin-Madison), A. Kader (ASU), F. C. Michel (Rice Univ.) and, P. Scowen (ASU)