Menu Close

Key Information

Crab Nebula and Pulsar

Type Supernova Remnant Nebula and Pulsar
Diameter 11 to 13 light years
Distance About 6,500 light years
Temperature (of star) 28,800,000 °F
Rotation (of star) 33 milliseconds
Date of Discovery 1731 (John Bevis)
Other Names NGC 1952, Taurus A, M1

Learning Point

  • The Crab Nebula is a nebula formed from the explosion of a supernova that was observed by Chinese astronomers around a thousand years ago. The nebula reveals a lot about how supernovae happen, as well as being the home of a new pulsar star, a form of neutron star.

Project

  • Create a comparison a list of other supernovae recement nebulas.
  • Overview
  • Pulsar
Crab Nebula
IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine (Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg), CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Crab Nebula Pulsar

Location

Located in Taurus constellation, within our Milky Way

Fun Facts

  • The Crab Nebula was identified as the remnant of SN 1054 by 1939.
  • The Crab Pulsar itself was discovered in 1968 by Dr Susan Jocelyn Bell.
  • Neutron stars can undergo a starquake, which makes the star spin up in speed slightly.
  • A teaspoon of a neutron star material would way 4 billion tons on Earth.

Past Lessons

126 February 10, 2025 (North America)
No Past Lessons

Upcoming Lessons

No Upcoming Lessons