M1 – CRAB NEBULA

Taurus

 (ra: 5:35,5/ dec 22:01)

DATA

TYPE: Supernova Remnant

VISUAL MAGNITUDE: 8.4

SIZE: 6 x 4 arc minutes

DISTANCE: 6500 light years

OBJECT DESCRIPTION

The Crab nebula is one of the most famous Supernova remnants. The expansive gas cloud was generated after an explosion which was observed in the year 1054. There are records of Chinese astronomers affirming a bright light of magnitude -6 visible also during the day light through 23 days.

Charles Messier identified this object in 1758 while he was searching for Comet Halley in his first predictive return. He soon realized that the object has no apparent proper motion and he catalogued. It was the discovery of this object which caused Charles Messier to begin with the compilation of his catalog to prevent comets hunters of getting confused with non self motion objects.

IMAGE INFORMATION

SCOPE: Celestron C8 (SCT),riding in a Vixen GPDX  with Sky Sensor 2000

SKY CONDITIONS: Visual limit magnitude 4. Object too low for channels Green and Blue

CAMERA: Starlight Xpress SXV M7 at f 6.3

FILTERS: Astronomik Type II Astronomik CLS

EXPOSURES: LRGB (46,12,10,12)

PROCESSED: Calibration with darks & bias in Images Plus. Nasa Fit Liberator. Photoshop CS.