MESSIER 1 (AKA THE CRAB NEBULA)

SUPERNOVA REMNANT IN TAURUS 

 (Image Centred at ra 05h:34m / dec 22:01)

December 2014 - Camping La Porteña, San Antonio de Areco, Buenos Aires, Argentina

DATA

Type: Supernova Remnant 

Apparent Magnitude: 8.4

Apparent diameter: 6x4 arc minutes

Distance: 6.300 light years

IMAGE INFORMATION

TELESCOPE: 8" Orion Optics UK Mirror with Televue Paracorr (1150 mm focal length)

CAMERA: QSI 583 WS

FILTERS: Baader LRGB

SKY CONDITIONS: rural skies

EXPOSURES: LRGB (30,30,30,30) all channels in bin 1x1

OBJECT DESCRIPTION AND IMAGE SESSION

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.