The Crab Nebula (catalogue designations M1, NGC 1952, Taurus A) is a supernova remnant in the constellation of Taurus. The now-current name is due to William Parsons, who observed the object in 1840 using a 36-inch telescope and produced a drawing that looked somewhat like a crab.[5] Corresponding to a bright supernova recorded by Chinese astronomers in 1054, the nebula was observed later by English astronomer John Bevis in 1731. The nebula was the first astronomical object identified with a historical supernova explosion.
Designations | M1, NGC 1952, Crab Nebula |
Object Type | Supernova remnant (SNR) |
Constellation | Taurus |
Apparent Magnitude | +8.4 |
Apparent Size (V) | 8 x 4 arcmin |
Distance | 6500 ±1600 ly, (2000±500) PC |
Size | Radius ~5.5 ly |
Redshift | |
Radial velocity |