Messier 1 (M 1) - Crab Nebula

Introduction | Map | Find/Identify | Sketch | My Best Own Photos | My Own Observations | References || Appendix: My Own Photos

On this page I collect my observations of the galactic emission nebula (supernova remnant) M 1 (Crab Nebula) in the constellation Taurus / Bull.

 

Introduction

Taurus / Bull is another constellation that I only knew by its name. Thanks to the Hyades (Mel 25), it has now become more familiar to me - at least its star Aldebaran, which glares conspicuously yellow (or golden). While the Hyades are at the center of Taurus, the galactic emission nebula M 1 (NGC 1952), also known as Crab Nebula, is located at its left end and slightly above the end star zeta Tauri. It is famous for being a supernova remnant from 1054.

Size: 5 'x 4' / 6' (Stoyan / Karkoschka)
Distance: 6,200 light years (Stoyan)
Rating: *** (Stoyan)

Note: NGC 6960/6992/5 (Cirrus or Veil Nebula), M 1 (Crab Nebula), and IC 443 (Jellyfish Nebula) are the only supernova remnants that I have observed so far.

 

Map

M 1 (Crab Nebula) between Gemini / Twins and Taurus / Bull and below Elnath in Auriga (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

 

Find/Identify

Find: While the Hyades are at the center of Taurus, the galactic emission nebula M 1 (NGC 1952), also known as Crab Nebula, is located at its left end and slightly above the end star zeta Tauri (and nearly on the connecting line between zeta Tauri and Elnath). Whenever you see a faint glow in the eyepiece, you found M 1!

Identify: If the galactic emission nebula M 1 in the constellation Taurus was found in the way described above, it is also identified. (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

 

Sketch

The sketch by Michael Vlasov (DeepSkyWatch.com) provides a rough impression of what I observed (my impression was much fainter than the sketch):

Sketch of the Crab Nebula by Michael Vlasov (Copyright © Michael Vlasov 2016)

 

My Best Own Photos

Atik Infinity & Explorer 150PDS (April 6, 2018)

         

M 1 (Taurus), post-processed and noise removed

 

Ditto,post-processed and noise removed

 

Ditto, post-processed and noise removed

eVscope

         

M 1 - Jan 28, 2020, processed

 

M 1 - Jan 28, 2020, processed

 

M 1 - Mar 22, 2020, processed

   

M 1 - Mar 6, 2021, processed

 

M 1 - Mar 6, 2021, processed

 

M 1 - Mar 6, 2021, processed

eVscope 2

    

M 1 - Feb 7, 2023, 784 s

 

M 1 - Feb 7, 2023 - photo left processed

Vespera

    

M 1, Jan 9, 2024 - original (179 frames = 1790 s)

 

M 1, Jan 9, 2024 - large (179 frames = 1790 s), photo left processed

    

M 1, Jan 26, 2024 - original (149 frames = 1490 s), CLS Filter

 

M 1, Jan 26, 2024 - large (149 frames = 1490 s), CLS Filter, photo left processed

 

My Own Observations

Observations February 2017

Observations April 2018

Observations January - March 2020

Observations November 2020

Observations January - March 2021

Observations January - March 2022

Observations January - February 2023

Observations January 2024

 

References

On this Site


My Own Photos

Atik Infinity & Explorer 150PDS (April 6, 2018)

         

M 1, unprocessed

 

Ditto, post-processed

 

Ditto, post-processed and noise removed

         

M 1 (Taurus), unprocessed

 

Ditto, post-processed

 

Ditto, post-processed and noise removed

         

M 1 (Taurus), unprocessed

 

Ditto, post-processed

 

Ditto, post-processed and noise removed

eVscope

         

M 1 - Jan 28, 2020, processed

 

M 1 - Jan 28, 2020, processed

 

M 1 - Mar 13, 2020, processed

   

M 1 - Mar 13, 2020, processed

 

M 1 - Mar 18, 2020, processed

 

M 1 - Mar 18, 2020, processed

   

M 1 - Mar 22, 2020, processed

 

M 1 - Mar 22, 2020, processed

 

M 1 - Mar 23, 2020, processed

   

M 1 - Mar 23, 2020, processed

 

M 1 - Mar 23, 2020, processed

 

M 1 - Mar 23, 2020, processed

   

M 1 - Nov 17, 2020

 

M 1 - Nov 17, 2020

 

M 1 - Nov 17, 2020

   

M 1 - Nov 17, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 1 - Nov 17, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 1 - Nov 17, 2020, photo on top processed

   

M 1 - Mar 6, 2021

 

M 1 - Mar 6, 2021

 

M 1 - Mar 6, 2021

   

M 1 - Mar 6, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 1 - Mar 6, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 1 - Mar 6, 2021, photo on top processed

     

M 1 - Jan 24, 2022

 

M 1 - Jan 24, 2022, photo left processed

   

eVscope 2

        

M 1 - Jan 24, 2022

 

M 1 - Jan 24, 2022 - photo left processed

   
     

M 1 - Jan 24, 2022 - with overlay, 6 min

 

M 1 - Jan 24, 2022 - with overlay, photo left processed, 6 min

   
         

M 1 - Mar 20, 2022

 

M 1 - Jan 18, 2023, 632 s

 

M 1 - Feb 4, 2023, 448 s

      

M 1 - Mar 20, 2022 - photo on top processed

 

M 1 - Jan 18, 2023 - photo on top processed

 

M 1 - Feb 4, 2023 - photo on top processed

        

M 1 - Feb 7, 2023, 784 s

 

M 1 - Feb 7, 2023 - photo left processed

   

Vespera

   

M 1, Feb 7, 2023 - original (181 frames = 1810 s)

   
    

M 1, Jan 9, 2024 - original (179 frames = 1790 s)

 

M 1, Jan 9, 2024 - large (179 frames = 1790 s), photo left processed

    

M 1, Jan 26, 2024 - original (149 frames = 1490 s), CLS Filter

 

M 1, Jan 26, 2024 - large (149 frames = 1490 s), CLS Filter, photo left processed