The Crab Nebula by MARICHELLE SOLANA

1007389 — 2017-03-28 22:24:07 UTC

The material ejected from the Crab Nebula is moving at more than 3 million mph. The nebula stretches 10 light-years across, though it continues to expand. It lies approximately 6,300 light-years from Earth, in the constellation of Taurus.

1007389 — 2017-03-28 22:28:03 UTC

1007389 — 2017-04-09 12:17:51 UTC

Chinese astronomers watching the sky on July 4, 1054, noted the appearance of a new or "guest" star just above the southern horn of Taurus. The bright source was visible during the daytime for 23 days, shining six times as brightly as Venus. They would have been able to see it for 653 days — almost two years — with the naked eye.

1007389 — 2017-04-09 12:24:33 UTC

In 1731, British astronomer John Bevis observed a cloudy blob in the sky and added it to his star atlas.n 1758, Charles Messier discovered a hazy patch in the sky, which he would later add to his catalog as Messier 1, or M1. Studying the nebula over time revealed that, unlike a comet, it didn't move across the night sky.

1007389 — 2017-04-09 12:28:10 UTC

Contributor, Nola Taylor Redd Space.com. "The Crab Nebula (M1): Facts, Discovery & Images." Space.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2017. .https://www.spacetelescope.org/images/heic0515a/

Jenner, Lynn. "NASA's Hubble Captures the Beating Heart of the Crab Nebula." NASA. NASA, 07 July 2016. Web. 19 Apr. 2017. .https://www.nasa.gov/jpl/herschel/crab-nebula-pia17563

Ventrudo, Brian. "Brian Ventrudo." One Minute Astronomer. N.p., 15 Dec. 2011. Web. 19 Apr. 2017. <http://oneminuteastronomer.com/5031/crab-nebula/>.

1007389 — 2017-04-09 12:42:00 UTC

This composite image of the Crab Nebula shows x-ray (blue) and optical (red)

1007389 — 2017-04-09 12:46:29 UTC

The neutron star at the very center of the Crab Nebula has about the same mass as the sun but compressed into an incredibly dense sphere that is only a few miles across.

1007389 — 2017-04-09 12:52:49 UTC

The image combines Hubble's view of the nebula at visible wavelengths, obtained using three different filters sensitive to the emission from oxygen and sulfur ions and is shown here in blue. Herschel's far-infrared image reveals the emission from dust in the nebula and is shown here in red.

1007389 — 2017-04-09 13:08:26 UTC

Around 1844, British astronomer William Parsons sketched the nebula. The resemblance of the image to a crustacean led to M1's other name, the Crab Nebula.

1007389 — 2017-04-19 21:02:13 UTC

1007389 — 2017-04-20 00:12:38 UTC