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This is the Crab Nebula in Taurus and a supernova remnant. This
supernova occurred in the year 1054 A.D. and was documented by the Chinese
and several other cultures. A supernova remnant is the cloud of gas
and dust resulting from the explosion of the star that goes supernova.
These clouds of gas expand and form tendrils of gas that fluoresce in the
radiation resulting from the explosion and the neutron star that forms in
the exploded star's wake. This object is about 6,300
light years distant and is currently about 7 light years in diameter.
The cloud continues to expand at a rate of about 600 miles per second.
Elements heavier than carbon are created only in these supernova explosions.
This means your own body, and indeed our planet are made up of ashes of
supernovae such as this.
Back to Messier Gallery
Date: 12/22/2006
Location:
Cheddar Ranch Observatory
Telescope: LX200 10" SCT @ f/6.3
Mount: AP-1200
Camera: Canon 350D,
Modified, Type 1
Exposure Count: 25 @ 5 min. each, 125 minute total
exposure
Guiding: ST-402, Orion 80ED, CCDOPS
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Post Processing: |
ImagesPlus: Dark and flat calibration, align and
combine, digital development, Lucey-Richardson deconvolution, pixel math
color adjustment.
Photoshop CS2: Smart sharpen, levels, crop
NeatImage: Noise reduction
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