Crab Nebula (M1)
Also known as M1 · M 1 · Crab Nebula · NGC 1952
Crab Nebula (M1) is a supernova remnant in the constellation Taurus, about 6,520 light-years from Earth.
Facts
| Type | Supernova remnant |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Taurus |
| Position (J2000) | 5h 34m 31s, +22° 00′ |
| Distance | 6,520 light-years (its light set off about 6,520 years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 8.4 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Size on the sky | 7′ × 5′ (the full Moon is about 31′) |
| Filter | UHC (narrowband) filter (Glowing gas shines in a few colours of hydrogen and oxygen: a UHC filter passes those and blocks most light pollution and sky glow.) |
| Studied in | 6,598 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
Crab Nebula (M1) is highest in the sky at midnight in December. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 88° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 62°. To see it you need binoculars.
Heights are worked out for India and for 50° N. Set your location in Settings to see them for where you are.
For tonight's best time from your own town, the darkness and the Moon, open it on the map and see its "Tonight from your location" card.
More in Taurus
- Barnard's Merope Nebula (IC 349)
- Crab Pulsar (PSR B0531+21)
- Hyades
- Maia Nebula (NGC 1432)
- Merope Nebula (NGC 1435)
- Pleiades (M45)
- Simeis 147
- Spaghetti Nebula
Everything in Taurus · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits