Messier 1 (Taurus)
The supernova remnant Messier 1 (NGC 1952, Crab Nebula) in the constellation Taurus
Fig. 1 - A chaotic web of filaments born of a star's death: Messier 1 in Taurus, photographed with an 8-inch f/5 Newtonian reflector on a ZWO AM5 mount. The brightest star in the image is HD 37013, a double star (separation 4.2 arcseconds, mag 6.9 / mag 7.5).
| Object name: | Constellation: | Coordinates: | Apparent size: | Visual brightness: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Messier 1 (= NGC 1952) | Taurus | 05h35m / +22°01' | 6' x 4' | 8.4 mag |
Messier 1 (NGC 1952, Crab Nebula) marks the site of a spectacular stellar explosion witnessed by astronomers in 1054. The supernova remnant, located in the constellation Taurus, lies about 6,500 light-years from Earth, spans roughly 11 light-years in diameter, and is still expanding at a rate of approximately 1,500 kilometers per second (930 miles per second).
The name "Crab Nebula" originates from a sketch made by William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse, in 1842 or 1843 using a 36-inch (91 cm) telescope. The drawing vaguely resembled a crab with extended claws, giving rise to the nebula's enduring nickname.
The Crab Pulsar PSR B0531+21, a neutron star with a diameter of 28-30 kilometers (17-19 miles) and a spin rate of 30.2 times per second, lies at the center of the Crab Nebula (see Fig. 2). Messier 1 was discovered by English medical doctor, electrical researcher and astronomer John Bevis in 1731 (source: Wikipedia).
Technical Details:
Exposure time: 7h 42min (154x3min)
Gain: 100
Temperature: -10°C
Date: November 28 and December 13/14, 2025
Processing: Astro Pixel Processor (APP) and Photoshop
Calibration: Darks, flats, and bias
Equipment:
Cooled ASI 2600MC Pro camera, TeleVue Paracorr Type II coma corrector, 8" f/5 "ONTC" Newtonian telescope, ZWO AM5 Strain Wave Mount, ZWO OAG-L off-axis system, ASI 174MM Mini guide camera, ASIAIR Plus
Messier 1 was also captured with a 16-inch dobsonian on an equatorial platform. The image can be seen here.
Fig. 2 - Close-up of the Crab nebula with its neutron star PSR B0531+21.
Fig. 3 - Search chart for Messier 1. Copyright 2025 'The Mag-7 Star Atlas Project', www.siaris.net.