Messier 1 - The Crab Nebula

This was the first light for my ZWO ASI2600MC AIR camera! The image shows Messier 1, also known as the Crab Nebula. It is an expanding remnant of a supernova that exploded in the year 1054. Historical records from several cultures report that the supernova was bright enough to be seen in daylight for weeks. Today the nebula continues to grow and is powered by a fast-spinning neutron star at its center, the Crab Pulsar. This pulsar energizes the surrounding gas and creates its diverse and colourful structures. What truly blows my mind is that some people, like fellow astrophotographer Adam Block, are able to create animations showing the nebula actually expanding, because they have been capturing images of it for so many years.

For this image I used the HOO colour palette, but this is one of the few targets that really looks great in almost any palette. Choosing the best version for me was pretty difficult. I have added a few different versions of the Crab nebula in the image down below.