I can calculate the motions of the heavenly bodies, but not the madness of people

— Sir Isaac Newton

M1 CRAB NEBULA

M1 CRAB NEBULA

Taken 2-1-12 from my back yard thru my 111EDT using the Starlight Xpress SXVR-H9. Wanted to get two hours imaging in, but the guider started to give me problems after 8 5min images. Of the eight 6 were good due to the guiding. This image of the Crab Nebula is 6-5min images combined in MaximDL and slight process in Photoshop CS4.  Located in the constellaion Taurus M1 was created from a supernova explosion in July 1054 (fireworks anyone?).  It is 6,500 years away and 11 lys across.