The ring rotates around a neutron star in the spectacular nebula, a very small and dense star that is left behind when a massive star explodes in a supernova at the end of its life, NASA researchers said. "The inner ring is unique" and "a truly remarkable object", said Jeff Hester of Arizona State University.

"It has never been seen before, and it should tell us a lot about how the energy from the pulsar gets into the nebula," Hester said, adding, "It's like finding the transmission lines between the power plant and the light bulb."

Up to now astronomers have only been able to see pulsars, the star-generators that produce massive amounts of energy, and the nebulae that surround them.

The pictures taken by Chandra show tilted rings or waves of high-energy particles flung outward over thedistance of one light year from the central star, and high -energy jets of particles blasting away from the neutron star.