M1 · Crab Nebula

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Credit NASA, ESA, J. Hester and A. Loll (Arizona State University) · Public domain

Chinese name	蟹状星云
Type	Supernova remnant
Constellation	Tau
RA	05h35m
Dec	+22°
Apparent magnitude	8.4ᵐ
Hemisphere	Northern
Best season	Winter
Difficulty	Moderate
Focal length	长焦 1500mm+

About

The Crab Nebula (M1, NGC 1952) is the remnant of the "guest star" supernova recorded in 1054 AD by astronomers in China, Japan and elsewhere, lying about 6,500 light-years away in Taurus. It was the first object confirmed to match a historical supernova, and Messier's 1758 observation of it sparked the idea for his catalog, making it entry number one. The nebula combines filamentary red emission gas with diffuse blue synchrotron radiation, and at its center beats the Crab Pulsar, a neutron star spinning about 30 times per second. As the most famous supernova remnant in history, it shows astonishing detail at long focal lengths, prized for both science and beauty.