IC 443
Jellyfish Nebula
IC 443, the Jellyfish Nebula, is a 70-light-year-wide galactic supernova remnant located roughly 5,000 light-years away in the Gemini constellation. Estimated to be 3,000–30,000 years old, it features distinctive gaseous “tentacles” created by an exploding star and houses a likely pulsar (CXOU J061705) at its southern edge.
Key Characteristics
location:
Near the star Eta Geminorum in the constellation Gemini.
structure:
Comprises two connected sub-shells with different radii, often observed with a dark lane running northwest to southeast.
interaction:
The blast wave is currently interacting with dense, clumpy molecular clouds, creating bright, complex emission filaments.
observation:
Best viewed/photographed during winter and early spring. It is considered a challenging, yet popular target for astrophotography.
alternative designations:
Sharpless 248 (Sh2-248).