The Jellyfish Nebula – also known as IC 443 and Sh2-248 – is a supernova remnant located 5,000 lightyears away.
The glowing cosmic tendrils and fat bulbous ‘head’ are what give this deep-sky object its name, as it resembles a cosmic jellyfish floating through the Universe.
The Jellyfish Nebula is all that remains of a massive star that ran out of fuel and exploded as a supernova, leaving behind a shell of glowing gas.
IC 443 – Hubble Palette Jellyfish by Bob Franke, Chino Valley, Arizona, USA. Equipment: Takahashi FSQ-106ED, SBIG STF-8300M, AstroDon SII, Ha, OIII filters, Losmandy G11 mount
Studies with the Chandra X-ray Observatory suggest that the explosion may have created a spinning neutron star known as a pulsar in the southern edge of the nebula.
Yet while it was the collapsing of a dying star that produced the Jellyfish Nebula, some of the leftover material may well coalesce and grow over time, eventually producing new stars and perhaps even new planetary systems.
Below is a selection of images of the Jellyfish Nebula captured by BBC Sky at Night Magazine readers and astrophotographers from around the world.
For advice on photographing the night sky, read our guide to astrophotography or our top tips on the best astrophotography cameras.
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Jellyfish Nebula by Karl McCluskey, Castleford, West Yorkshire, 17 January 2020. Equipment: Altair Hypercam 183m Pro Tec camera, William Optics GT71 apo triplet refractor, Celestron AVX mount
Jellyfish Nebula by Lee Housden, Essex, UK. Equipment: Celestron CPC 8″ SCT, Skywatcher 80 Mm Apo, EQ Wedge, QHY5 Guide, Cannon 450d Modded, Clip Filter
Jellyfish Nebula by Alastair Woodward, Derby, UK. Equipment: Skywatcher 130PDS, HEQ5, Canon 350d (mono – self debayered), 6nm Ha Clip Filter, PHD2 guiding, ST80, QHY5L-II.
IC443 Nothern Shell, Jellyfish Nebula by Mark Griffith, Swindon, Wiltshire, UK. Equipment: Teleskop service 12″ Richey-Chretien telescope, Skywatcher EQ8 mount,Atik 383L+ camera, Astronomik Sii, Ha, Oiii filters, Astro physics 0.67 reducer.
Sh2-249 Jellyfish Nebula in HST by Chris Heapy, Macclesfield, UK. Equipment: TV NP127is, Large Field Corrector, Moravian G4-16000, Chroma 3nM Ha, SII and OIII, 10-Micron GM2000HPS-II.
Jelly Fish Nebula by Paul Gordon, Rochford, Essex, UK. Equipment: Borg 77ED II Refractor, Modded Canon EOS 1000D DSLR, CLS light pollution filter, Skyscan HEQ5 Pro.
IC 443 Jellyfish Nebula by Georges Chassaigne, Fregenal De La Sierra, Spain. Equipment: RC14″ Astrosib, AP1600AE, SBIG STX 16003.
The Jellyfish Nebula IC443 by Martin Baker, Sandhurst, Berkshire, UK. Equipment: Modified NEQ6, WO megrez 72mm, 0.8 reducer. SX694 CCD, Lodestar OAG, Baader NB filters.
IC443 – The Jellyfish Nebula by Stewart Wilson, Enfield, N London, UK. Equipment: Skywatcher Quattro F4 250mm, ASI1600MM Cool, SX Maxi Wheel, 3nm Chroma SHO Filters, 10Micron GM-1000 HPS
Turbulent Nature of the Jellyfish Nebula by Steve Pastor, Mayhill, NM, USA. Equipment: Takahashi CCA-250, QSI683wsg CCD, Astrodon 5nm H-alpha filter, Paramount ME.
