M1 Crab Nebula

Home > Galactic Astrophotography Constelación: Taurus
2018-09-29

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.

Object details

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
 
AstroGDL 2024