Crab Nebula - Messier 1

Messier 1, the Crab Nebula, is the most famous known supernova remnant. According to historical records, the Chinese recorded the appearance of a "guest star" in 1054

AD, probably when the supernova was first seen from Earth. The resulting Crab Nebula continues to expand at the amazing rate of almost 50 million miles per day. At

the centre of the nebula is a super dense spinning neutron star known as a "pulsar." In 1758 Charles Messier, a comet hunter, noted the nebula, prompting him to compile his now famous list of deep sky objects in order that other comet hunters would not mistake

them for comets - hence, the designation M1.

Cherryvalley Observatory

MPC Observatory Code: I83,

Rathmolyon,

County Meath,

Ireland.

Done