Skylit Studio

Crab Nebula | JAMES WEBB TELESCOPE | Skylit Studio

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High-quality Giclée prints with exceptional sharpness and vibrant colours.
Water-resistant coating for long-lasting protection.
Advanced LUCIA PRO II PIGMENT inks for rich, accurate colour reproduction.
Professional photo lustre 260gsm finish for a smooth, high-quality appearance.

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Celebrate your love for the universe with designs inspired by the stars and galaxies. Every print is custom-crafted to showcase the infinite beauty of the cosmos.

Exceptional print quality using the newly developed LUCIA PRO II PIGMENT inks on 260gsm Photo Lustre Paper, designed to last a lifetime.

Your prints are delivered quickly & FREE in the UK - order by 3:00 PM for same day dispatch. Next day shipping also available.

Every order is crafted and framed by us — never outsourced. Just expert hands and genuine care, right up to your doorstep.

SKYLIT STUDIO

Illuminating the Cosmos Through Visual Storytelling

The Crab Nebula: Ancient Stellar Violence Illuminated by Modern Eyes

In the constellation Taurus, approximately 6,500 light-years from Earth, lies one of astronomy's most celebrated supernova remnants—a cosmic graveyard where a massive star met its violent end nearly a millennium ago. The Crab Nebula (M1) represents the aftermath of a stellar explosion so brilliant that Chinese astronomers recorded its appearance in broad daylight during 1054 CE, creating a "guest star" visible for weeks before fading into the cosmic tapestry.

At the heart of this expanding shell of gas and dust beats the remnant of the exploded star: a rapidly spinning neutron star called a pulsar. This dense stellar corpse, no larger than a city yet containing more mass than our Sun, rotates at incredible speeds while generating powerful magnetic fields that accelerate particles to near light-speed. The pulsar's relentless energy drives the nebula's ongoing expansion and creates the mesmerizing structures visible today.

Webb's revolutionary NIRCam and MIRI instruments have dissected the Crab's complex anatomy in unprecedented detail, revealing a cage-like structure of fluffy red-orange filaments composed of doubly ionized sulfur that form the nebula's outer shell. For the first time, astronomers have mapped the warm dust emission throughout the remnant, represented as fluffy magenta material that creates intricate patterns most apparent in the nebula's lower left and upper right regions.

The most striking feature captured by Webb is the synchrotron radiation—emission produced by charged particles spiraling around magnetic field lines at relativistic speeds. This phenomenon appears as milky, smoke-like wisps that trace the invisible magnetic field structure emanating from the central pulsar. The thin white ribbons and curvy wisps follow ripple-like patterns that reveal the three-dimensional architecture of the pulsar's powerful magnetic field.

Webb's infrared vision has revealed an unexpected dust distribution that challenges previous understanding of supernova remnants. Unlike other stellar explosions where dust congregates at the center, the Crab's dust resides in dense filaments of the outer shell, with warmer grains in the outermost regions and cooler dust prevalent near the center. This unusual arrangement adds to the Crab's reputation as one of astronomy's most peculiar supernova remnants.

The nebula's yellow-white and green mottled regions represent areas where dust particles and ionized sulfur coincide, forming large loop-like structures throughout the interior. Meanwhile, blue-tinted filaments reveal the presence of singly ionized iron, providing crucial clues about the chemical composition and explosion mechanism that created this cosmic monument to stellar death.

Beyond its visual spectacle, the Crab Nebula serves as a cosmic laboratory for understanding supernova physics. Webb's spectroscopic analysis has refined measurements of the nickel-to-iron abundance ratio, helping astronomers determine whether this explosion resulted from an electron-capture supernova—a rare type of stellar death—or a conventional core-collapse event from a star with eight to ten times our Sun's mass.

This expanding shell of stellar debris, now spanning several light-years across, continues to evolve as shockwaves from the original explosion interact with surrounding interstellar material. The Crab Nebula stands as both a testament to the violent forces that shape our universe and a preview of the eventual fate awaiting massive stars throughout the cosmos—a cycle of stellar birth, death, and rebirth that has continued for billions of years.

Image Credits

Science: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI

Principal Investigator: T. Temim (Princeton University)

Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI)

Instrument: Webb NIRCam and MIRI

Adaptation: Skylit Studio

Crafted for the Cosmos. Made for Your Space.

Every Skylit Studio print is produced in-house using a Canon professional pigment-based ink system for extraordinary colour depth, detail, and longevity. We print on luxurious 260gsm Photo Lustre paper — chosen for its soft sheen, rich tones, and gallery-worthy quality. Whether it's a nebula, star map, or moon phase, the result is a celestial print that’s both timeless and museum-grade.

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope – Official Mission Trailer

Frequently asked questions

What Are The Deep Sky Prints?

The Deep Sky Collection is our curated selection of breathtaking astronomical visuals, drawn from the universe’s most awe-inspiring regions and phenomena. Most of these prints are based on real observations captured by cutting-edge space telescopes like NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, offering an authentic glimpse into the cosmos.

Unlike our personalised star and moon maps that mark life’s special milestones, this collection zooms out—showcasing distant galaxies, stellar nurseries, and cosmic collisions occurring light-years from Earth.

Each print reveals:

Stellar nurseries where stars are actively forming
Planetary nebulae and the spectacular aftermath of dying stars
Galaxies in motion—merging, colliding, and evolving across time
Protostellar jets and the raw energy of newborn suns

🖼️ While most visuals are created directly from infrared and multi-wavelength data, some pieces—like the Planetary Engulfment illustration—include a subtle degree of artistic interpretation, especially when visualising theoretical cosmic events not directly imaged.

Still, each piece remains grounded in astrophysical reality, informed by NASA data and the latest astronomical research. These are not generic digital recreations—they are windows into the invisible universe, where light beyond human sight has been translated into colour and form.

Perfect for astronomy lovers, science enthusiasts, and dreamers alike, the Deep Sky prints invite you to bring home a fragment of the infinite. Whether it’s the iconic Pillars of Creation or the dramatic outflows of Herbig-Haro 49/50, each piece tells a story written across space and time.

✨ Printed with professional LUCIA PRO II pigment inks on 260gsm Photo Lustre Paper, these gallery-quality prints match the exceptional finish of our star maps.

How Long Does It Take to Receive My Order?

We aim to bring the cosmos to your doorstep as quickly as possible! Once you place your order, we begin production immediately and dispatch it the same day. Delivery times depend on your location and the shipping option selected:

UK Deliveries: Arrive within 24-48 hours with our couriers.
International Deliveries: Times vary by destination. Details are provided at checkout.

What Materials Do You Use?

We use premium quality paper and state-of-the-art professional printers to ensure vibrant and lasting prints. All pictures are framed with care, using durable and elegant materials - made in the UK.

Can I Order a Framed Cosmos Print?

Yes! All cosmos-themed prints can be framed in a selection of frame colours, ensuring your artwork arrives ready to hang or gift.

Do You Ship Internationally?

Yes, we deliver love globally! Our prints can be shipped worldwide, with shipping costs and delivery times varying based on your location. Detailed shipping information is available at checkout.

Can I See the Print Before Ordering?

Yes! The designs showcased on our product pages are exactly what you’ll receive. Each print is carefully displayed so you can confidently choose your favourite piece of cosmic art.

What If I Make a Mistake with My Order?

If there's an issue with your order, please contact us immediately. The fastest way to reach us is by phone at 0161 399 3582, and we'll do our best to accommodate your needs.

What Makes Our Cosmos Prints Special?

Our cosmos prints combine premium craftsmanship, vibrant artistry, and a passion for the universe. Designed to last a lifetime, they bring the magic of the stars, galaxies, and the cosmos into your space in an unforgettable way.