When to photograph M 1 (Crab Nebula)

When to photograph it

From 45° N the best months are November to January, with up to 9.2 hours of astronomical darkness above 30° in December. It reaches 67° at its highest.

From 35° S the best months are November to January, with up to 2.7 hours of astronomical darkness above 30° in December. It reaches 33° at its highest.

From 45° NFrom 35° SDark hours above 30°, on the 15th of each month

Framing

Its long axis is 8′. It fills 35 to 80% of the short side of an APS-C sensor at about 2350 to 5360 mm, and of a full-frame sensor at about 3610 to 8250 mm.

Filters and the moon

It glows in H-alpha, and often OIII, so a dual-band filter on a color camera or narrowband filters on a mono camera cut light pollution and keep it workable with the moon up. The dark sky calendar shows which nights this month are moon-free where you are.

Plan it for tonight

Dates and times depend on your exact location. The imaging planner shows M 1's altitude through tonight, its transit time and its distance from the moon. For sub length, use the exposure calculator.

Nearby targets

NGC 2174 Monkey Head Nebula 8.2° away
M 35 8.3° away
IC 443 Jellyfish Nebula 9.7° away
M 37 11.3° away
IC 410 Tadpoles Nebula 11.6° away
NGC 1893 11.7° away

Gear that suits M 1

M 1 is 8.0′ along its long axis. These frame it on an APS-C sensor with room to crop. It shines in H-alpha and OIII, so a dual-band filter on a color camera cuts through light pollution and moonlight.

Celestron C8 OTA 2032 mm f/10: fills 30% of an APS-C frame's short side View at High Point Scientific

Celestron EdgeHD 8 OTA 2032 mm f/10: fills 30% of an APS-C frame's short side View at High Point Scientific

Optolong L-Ultimate 3 nm 3 nm dual-band, Ha, OIII, for color cameras View at High Point Scientific

Antlia ALP-T 5 nm 5 nm dual-band, Ha, OIII, for color cameras View at High Point Scientific

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