John Bevis Discovers the Crab Nebula

In 1731, English physician and amateur astronomer John Bevis discovered the Crab Nebula, a supernova remnant in the constellation of Taurus. This nebula was later determined to be the remnant of a supernova explosion observed by Chinese astronomers in 1054 CE. Bevis's discovery was the first identification of what would later become the first entry in Charles Messier's famous catalog of astronomical objects.