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  • Released Thursday, February 14, 2013
  • Updated Thursday, December 3, 2015 at 12:35PM
  • ID: 11185
X-ray images of a pulsar's powerful jet offer hints about its shape and motion.

X-ray images of a pulsar's powerful jet offer hints about its shape and motion.

This video loops eight images of the Vela pulsar taken between Jun. and Sep. 2010.

The Vela pulsar spins faster than a helicopter rotor, and emits a 0.7 light-year-long jet of charged particles.

The Vela pulsar spins faster than a helicopter rotor, and emits a 0.7 light-year-long jet of charged particles.

Models of the jet's path (green line) superimposed on images taken by Chandra show its helix-like motion.

Models of the jet's path (green line) superimposed on images taken by Chandra show its helix-like motion.

As the pulsar rotates rapidly, interactions between its core and crust may lead to an uneven distribution of mass, producing the jet's wobble.

As the pulsar rotates rapidly, interactions between its core and crust may lead to an uneven distribution of mass, producing the jet's wobble.

The Chandra X-ray Observatory is the most sensitive X-ray telescope ever built.

The Chandra X-ray Observatory is the most sensitive X-ray telescope ever built.

For More Information

See NASA.gov

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Cover image courtesy of NASA/CXC/M.Weiss
Pulsar video and images courtesy of NASA/CXC/University of Toronto/M. Durant et al.
Chandra image courtesy of NASA/CXC/NGST

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