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Crab Nebula

M1, Taurus A, SN 1054, NGC 1952

Supernova remnant in Taurus

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Proper Name	Crab Nebula
Messier Number	M1
NGC/IC Number	NGC 1952
Other Designations	Taurus A, SN 1054
Constellation	Taurus
Right Ascension	5h 34m 32s
Declination	+22° 0' 52"
Distance	c. 6,500 light years c. 1,990 parsecs
Magnitude	Apparent: +8.39 Absolute: -3.11
Dimensions	Apparent: 6' x 4' Actual: 11 x 8 light years
Associated Star(s)	Crab Pulsar
Optimum Visibility	December / January
Notes	The first item in Messier's catalogue is a supernova remnant in Taurus, an expanding cloud of matter surrounding the Crab Pulsar, the active remnant of the original star whose supernova explosion created the nebula.

In the constellation of Taurus, a star is exploding. The explosion began with a supernova almost a thousand years ago, and the resulting nebula, the Crab Nebula, is continuing to expand at more than 1,000 km per second. It is home to a powerful pulsar.

The pulsar that lies at the heart of the Crab Nebula. This is the remnant of the star whose supernova created the nebula nearly a thousand years ago. As it spins rapidly on its axis, the pulsar sends shockwaves out through the nebula.

The faint Crab Nebula is near Taurus' southern horn-star, Tianguan, in the sky. This map shows the nebula artificially bright - at magnitude +8.4, it is in fact invisible to the naked eye.

Relative Galactic Position of the Crab Nebula

The famous Crab Nebula is some 6,300 light years from Earth. It falls within the boundaries of Taurus, lying in the direction of our Galaxy's rim.

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