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M1: The Crab Nebula Trivia Quiz

Welcome to FunTrivia's very own Messier Marathon! A Messier Marathon, named after French astronomer Charles Messier, is an telescopic journey to try and locate all 110 Messier objects. Our first port of call is M1, also known as the Crab Nebula.

A multiple-choice quiz by PolskaMan. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
PolskaMan

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
269,767

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
1214

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In what constellation does M1 appear to be located? Hint

Lacerta the Lizard

Pisces the Fish

Taurus the Bull

Orion the Hunter

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Question 2 of 10

2. Astronomers from which nation are noted for observing the supernova in 1054 and then recording it? Hint

America

Zimbabwe

China

England

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Question 3 of 10

3. Since it is a supernova remnant, is M1 constantly expanding?

Yes

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which planet, however rarely, does at times transit Crab? Hint

Saturn

Gliese 581d

Uranus

Venus

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Question 5 of 10

5. Who was the astronomer who first discovered M1 as a supernova remnant? Hint

Kepler

Edwin Hubble

William Herschel

John Bevis

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Question 6 of 10

6. The magnitude of the Crab Nebula is 8.4. Does this mean it can be seen with the naked eye in the city?

Yes

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Question 7 of 10

7. What was M1 once mistaken for? Hint

A real crab

A star

A comet

A black hole

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Question 8 of 10

8. Something at the middle of the crab nebula is rotating rapidly at 30 kilometers per second. What is it? Hint

Quasar

Black hole

Neutron star

Magnetar

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Question 9 of 10

9. Who drew the first sketch of M1 that gave it its name? Hint

Lord Rosse

Tycho Brahe

John Bevis

Copernicus

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Question 10 of 10

10. The Anasazi people of North America could possibly have recorded the supernova of 1054 that later became the Crab Nebula.

True

False

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In what constellation does M1 appear to be located?

Answer: Taurus the Bull

The constellation Taurus is a winter constellation, which means that it is not visible in the summer. Within the stellar bull, M1 lies northwest of the star Zeta (�) Tauri.

2. Astronomers from which nation are noted for observing the supernova in 1054 and then recording it?

Answer: China

The supernova explosion (which occurs only once per century per galaxy) was bright enough to be seen in the daytime. 1731 was the year the nebula itself was first observed, by English astronomer John Bevis.

3. Since it is a supernova remnant, is M1 constantly expanding?

Answer: Yes

M1, also known as NGC 1952, is, from our point of view, expanding rapidly. No need to worry, though, as this nebula is located 6,300 light years away, and is in no way a threat to Earth.

4. Which planet, however rarely, does at times transit Crab?

Answer: Saturn

The last time Saturn ever had a transit, it was in 2003. Before that, it was in 1296! But if you want to witness it again, you are out of luck! It won't happen again until the 23rd century, 2267!

5. Who was the astronomer who first discovered M1 as a supernova remnant?

Answer: John Bevis

English amateur astronomer John Bevis (1693-1771) pointed his telescope toward the night sky and discovered the Crab Nebula. As well as an amateur astronomer, he was a doctor who lived in Stoke Newington, Middlesex.

6. The magnitude of the Crab Nebula is 8.4. Does this mean it can be seen with the naked eye in the city?

Answer: no

The magnitude scale is used for measuring the brightness of astronomical objects, including the Crab Nebula. The higher the number is on the scale, the dimmer it is.

7. What was M1 once mistaken for?

Answer: A comet

Comet Halley was predicted to return in 1835, and eager astronomers mistook M1 to be Halley. Ironically, the Messier Catalog was first written to help prevent the contents from being mistaken as comets.

8. Something at the middle of the crab nebula is rotating rapidly at 30 kilometers per second. What is it?

Answer: Neutron star

Although it is very slowly decelerating, it is still moving incredibly fast. For those who are not aware, a neutron star is a very small, but extremely dense star. Its outer atmosphere is only a few inches thick!

9. Who drew the first sketch of M1 that gave it its name?

Answer: Lord Rosse

Because telescopes of the time were not as powerful and technological as ours are today, the English astronomer Lord Rosse had to view only a blurry, somewhat distorted image of M1. Since that time, of course, clearer pictures have been made.

10. The Anasazi people of North America could possibly have recorded the supernova of 1054 that later became the Crab Nebula.

Answer: True

Certain findings such as the petrogrpah on a wall at the Anasazi village of Chaco Canyon indicate that the Anasazi could very possibly have observed and recorded the explosion. Curiously, though, very few European or Arabic accounts of the phenomena exist.

Source: Author PolskaMan

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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