Star Explosion: Twin Jet Leaves a Twin Ring ✛ ✦
In 1054, astronomers spotted a new star — a supernova explosion, whose remnant we call the Crab Nebula. At its center lies a neutron star, a city-sized core spinning wildly (a pulsar). For many years, we only saw one jet — a thin stream of gas blasting out at nearly light speed. But Hubble, Webb, and radio telescopes revealed a second ring: an identical jet burst out from the opposite side and, slamming into the surrounding gas, left its mark.
The find confirms that the blast wasn't spherical but followed a 'jittering jet' scenario from computer models. It's not a round firework burst but more like a popped paint balloon: the stuff was ejected in two jets going opposite ways. That's why the nebula has such a lace-like pattern. And the recoil from the jets gave the pulsar tremendous speed — like a paint balloon, shooting out jets, also flies in the opposite direction.
Now astronomers know what to look for and will check other supernova remnants for paired rings.
The 1054 explosion was so bright it was visible during the day for an entire month, and at night it lit up the ground — historians find records of it from Chinese and Arab astronomers.