Crab Nebula
Supernova remnant in Taurus · 6,500 light-years
🔭 Explore Crab Nebula in the 3D map →View Crab Nebula images →| Type | Supernova remnant |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Taurus |
| Right ascension | 5h 34m 30s |
| Declination | +22° 01′ |
| Object distance | 6,500 light-years |
| Also known as | M1 |
| Imaged by | Hubble, JWST |
The shredded remains of a star that exploded in 1054 AD, recorded by astronomers at the time. At its heart spins a pulsar — a city-sized neutron star flashing 30 times a second.
Observing Crab Nebula
Crab Nebula lies in the constellation Taurus and is best placed in the evening sky around December. Its maximum altitude above the horizon depends on your latitude. It is best placed for observers in the northern hemisphere, and sits low for those far south.
See Crab Nebula in Universe Finder
Open the interactive 3D map to fly to Crab Nebula and see it in context among the real stars around it. Launch the 3D view →
Sources
- Position and distance curated from published deep-sky catalogues (Messier / NGC / IC and the astronomical literature).
- Object identity cross-referenced with SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg).
- Image credits and the original observation source are linked with each photograph.
Related objects
- Eastern Veil — supernova remnant
- Veil Nebula — supernova remnant
- The Sun — star
- Mercury — solar system