#ngc 1952

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The Crab Nebula, M1 // Roberto Astesani

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M1 [NGC 1952] Crab Nebula Supernova Remnant

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The Crab

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かに星雲

[astro-galactic-ostrology]

Crab Nebula (NGC 1952) 

[Multiwave Photo]

The aftermath of a supernova observed by John Bevis in 1731. The supernova itself was recorded by Chinese astronomers in 1054 A.D, which initially lasted about 23 days. 

Commonly known as M1, the Crab Nebula is the first object recorded in the Messier catalogue. The supernova contains a pulsar located at its center, and its diameter extends to about 10 light years. The nebula can easily be seen with a basic telescope in the Taurus constellation at approximately RA 5 34 32 Dec +22 0 52.

An interesting perspective about its discovery (1054 A.D.):

“Nearly a thousand years ago, on a late-April morning in the year 1054, groggy Chinese astronomers awakened to the spectacle of a blazing new star in the daytime sky. This “guest star”, as they called it, appeared out of nowhere, shone with a reddish-white light some six times brighter than Venus, then slowly faded from daytime view after 23 days. What they observed, of course, was a supernova, a massive star suddenly collapsed upon itself before exploding with as much energy as an entire galaxy.” (source)

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The Crab Nebula, M1 // Tim Ray

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The Crab Nebula, M1 // Tony Hallas

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The Crab Nebula, M1 // John Hawk