The Crab Nebula is a supernova remnant, a cloud of gas and dust from a massive star that exploded in 1054 AD, visible in the constellation Taurus. It's about 6,500 light-years away and contains a rapidly spinning neutron star (pulsar) at its core, which powers the nebula's glow. Its name comes from a drawing by Lord Rosse that resembled a crab, and it's a well-studied object, visible with binoculars or a small telescope, especially in January. Key facts
Origin: Remnant of a supernova explosion observed in 1054 AD, recorded by Chinese astronomers.
Location: Constellation Taurus, about 6,500 light-years from Earth.
Composition: An expanding cloud of gas and dust, with a central neutron star.
Central object: A pulsar, a neutron star that spins rapidly and emits beams of radiation.
Appearance: A glowing, filamentary structure that looks like a crab's claw, hence the name.
Visibility: Can be seen with binoculars or a small telescope, best observed in the Northern Hemisphere in January.
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