Jellyfish Nebula - IC 443

Higher resolution image

Image information:

Date: 12/13/2025
Equipment: Moravian C1+ 12000A camera through Sky-Watcher Esprit 80 ED telescope with IDAS HEUIB-II filter on Pegasus Astro NYX-101 mount. The telescope was working at f3.95 using TS 2" 0.79x corrector / reducer
Image type: OSC
Exposure time: 100X180s, gain 40.
Comment:  

Object information:

Object designations:
  • IC 443, Sh2-248, Jellyfish Nebula
  • IC 444
  • Sh2-249
Object type:
  • IC 443 - supernova remnant
  • IC 444, vdB 75 - reflection & emission nebula
  • Sh2-249 - diffuse emission nebula
Object size:
  • IC 443 - 50'
  • IC 444 - 32'
  • Sh2-249 - 110'
Constellation:

Gemini
Comment:

IC 443 is a supernova remnant, an expanding debris cloud from a massive star that exploded thousands of years ago. Most supernova remnants expand into empty space, but IC 443 is plowing into dense gas of a molecular cloud, creating complex shock structures. The age of the remnant is not certain, it is estimated to be between 3000 and 30000 years. IC 443 is 5000 ly distant from us with the diameter of 70 ly.

IC 444 is a reflection and emission nebula complex close to IC 443. Bluish reflection part of IC 444 has also designation vdB 75. It shines by scattering starlight from nearby bright stars. Its distance is estimated to be close to IC 443, some 5000 ly with the diameter of 45 - 50 ly.

Sh2-249 is a vast and faint emission nebula in the same area. It is the molecular cloud that IC 433 interacts with. At distance of 5200 ly it spans some 250 - 300 ly across. The nebula is very diffuse, it is difficult to determine its boundaries.

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