Crab Nebula
Supernova remnant

Crab Nebula

M 1 · Taurus
These photons are ~6,500 years old
LP
Date
2026-03-20
Location
52.7618° N, 2.3776° W
Integration
28m (166 × 10s)
Software
ZWO Seestar app
Notes
—
Plate solve
Centre RA
5h 36m 24.5s
Centre Dec
+22° 13′ 45″
Field
42.7′ × 76.0′
Pixel scale
1.19″/px
Orientation
-136.9° E of N
TelescopeZWO Seestar S50
CameraZWO Seestar S50 Camera
RigFamily Holiday Rig
Captured from · United Kingdom
52.7618° N, 2.3776° W · open map ↗

Where to find it

Interactive sky chart centred on 5 36 24.5 +22 13 45, with constellation stick figures overlaid. Locate shows the whole constellation with the target ringed; Field zooms to the close-up. Drag to pan, scroll to zoom, click any star to identify it. Imagery: DSS colour survey via CDS Aladin Lite. Constellation figures © Dominic Ford (GPLv3).

The shredded remnant of a supernova witnessed in 1054 AD by Chinese and Arab astronomers. A pulsar at its heart spins 30 times per second, energising the surrounding filaments of ionised gas. One of the best-studied objects in the sky, and a striking target for narrowband imaging.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of object is M 1?
M 1 is a supernova remnant.
Which constellation is M 1 in?
M 1 lies in the constellation Taurus.
How far away is M 1?
The light in this image left M 1 roughly ~6,500 years ago, so that is how far back in time you are seeing it.
What are the coordinates of M 1?
M 1 sits at right ascension 05h 36m 24s and declination +22° 13′ 45″ (J2000).
When is the best time to photograph M 1?
M 1 rides highest in the evening sky around December, reaching about 59° above the horizon from around 54°N.
What equipment was used to photograph M 1?
This image of M 1 was captured with ZWO Seestar S50 and ZWO Seestar S50 Camera.
How much exposure time went into this image?
This image of M 1 represents 28m (166 × 10s) of total integration time.