The Crab Nebula, or M1, is a famous supernova remnant and pulsar wind nebula located in the constellation Taurus. This nebula is the remains of a star that exploded in a supernova event, recorded by Chinese astronomers in 1054 AD. It lies about 6,500 light-years away from Earth and spans approximately 11 light-years across.
The Crab Nebula’s structure is fascinating due to its complex web of filaments, which are remnants of the star’s outer layers, glowing from energy injected by a central pulsar. This pulsar, known as the Crab Pulsar, is a highly magnetized neutron star spinning about 30 times per second. It emits radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum, making the Crab Nebula one of the most studied celestial objects.
This nebula is also a favorite target for astronomers because of its brightness and the wealth of information it offers about supernova remnants, neutron stars, and cosmic evolution.
