Fingers, loops, and bays in the Crab Nebula

Inside the Crab Nebula, a rapidly rotating neutron star, or pulsar (white dot near the centre), powers the dramatic activity seen in this image taken by Chandra. The inner X-ray ring is thought to be a shock wave that marks the boundary between the surrounding nebula and the flow of matter and antimatter particles from the pulsar. Energetic particles move outward to brighten the outer ring and produce an extended X-ray glow. The jets perpendicular to the ring are matter and antimatter particles spewing out from the poles of the pulsar. The fingers, loops and bays visible on the outer boundary of the nebula are likely caused by the confinement of the high-energy particles by magnetic forces.