The Medusa Nebula (IC 443) is a supernova remnant about 5,000 light-years away in Gemini. Its intricate filaments of ionized gas resemble writhing tendrils, much like the mythical Medusa’s hair. This expanding shell of gas was ejected by a massive star that exploded thousands of years ago. Embedded within is a neutron star, the remnant of the supernova’s core. IC 443 is a fascinating region where stellar death fuels new star formation, blending destruction and rebirth in the cosmos.
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