M-1, The crab nebula

M-1 (NGC 1952) "The Crab Nebula"

The Crab Nebula
Click here for a full resolution version of this image. This color CCD image was taken with Kopernik's 20-inch F/8 telescope. It is a composit of images taken with SBIG ST-9E and STL-1301E cameras. This image includes both full spectrum and H-alpha data.

M 1 is the remnant of a supernova observed by Chinese and Japanese astronomers in AD 1054. They were able to see it for 2 years. At maximum it was as bright as Venus and visible, even in daylight, for 23 days. John Bevis discovered the nebula in 1731 and Messier independently found it in 1758.

To read about the History of the Crab Nebula, click here!

C. Messier:

(Sept. 12th, 1758) "Nebulosity above the southern horn of Taurus. It contains no star; it is a whitish light, elongated like the flame of a taper, discovered while observing the comet of 1758. Observed by Dr Bevis in about 1731. It is reported on the English Celestial Atlas."

NGC 1952
Magnitude: 8.4
Constellation: Taurus
RA: 5h 34m 30.0s
Dec: :+22d 01' 00" Epoch 2000
Size (mins) 6
Classification: Supernova remnant

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George Normandin, KAS

February 21st, 2005