Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Taurus (Tau)  ·  Contains:  Crab nebula  ·  M 1  ·  NGC 1952
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The Crab Nebula, M1, NGC 1952, Taurus A, Steven Bellavia
The Crab Nebula, M1, NGC 1952, Taurus A
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The Crab Nebula, M1, NGC 1952, Taurus A

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The Crab Nebula, M1, NGC 1952, Taurus A, Steven Bellavia
The Crab Nebula, M1, NGC 1952, Taurus A
Powered byPixInsight

The Crab Nebula, M1, NGC 1952, Taurus A

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Description

The crab nebula, (M1, NGC 1952, Taurus A), is a supernova remnant from a star that exploded in 1054 AD, and was visible during the daytime for 23 days.

The glowing dust and gas of the remains of this star can be seen with a small telescope in the constellation Taurus, close to the very visible, though unnamed, magnitude 3.0 star, Zeta Tauri. The crab nebula is 6,500 light years away.

A rapidly spinning neutron star (the ultra-dense core of the exploded star) is embedded in the center of the Crab Nebula. Electrons whirling at nearly the speed of light around the star’s magnetic field lines produce the eerie blue light in the interior of the nebula. The neutron star, like a lighthouse, ejects twin beams of radiation that make it appear to pulse 30 times per second as it rotates.

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The Crab Nebula, M1, NGC 1952, Taurus A, Steven Bellavia

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Supernovae Remnants