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The Crab Nebula (M 1) in Taurus (Sept 24, 2003)
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| The Crab Nebula in the Taurus constellation is the rest of a supernova explosion that took place in the year 1054, being observed by chinese astronomers. There is a neutron star in the core of the nebula that rotates at a speed of 30 times per second. Formerly a shining star, this old "Sun" has become a pulsar, emitting an enormous amount of radiation which makes the Crab Nebula extend at a speed of 1,500 Kilometers per second (!). M1 has a diameter of about 10 lightyears. |