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The Supernova which created the Crab Nebula (and the Crab Pulsar) was
observed in 1054 A.D. by Chinese Astronomers. These superb records
enable us to carefully measure the evolution of this Supernova with time.
- It is one of the youngest Pulsars, and thus is among the fastest
spinning (blinking 30 times a second!)
- It is still so "hot" from the collapse, it shows an optical pulse, too!!!
- The Crab Nebula has faded in the last few hundred years. It had been one of the brightest nebula in the sky, as it has expanded and dimmed.
Unique characteristics of the Crab Pulsar:
For a Hubble Space Telescope movie of the Crab Nebula, click Here.
A diagram explaining the movie is given Here
