Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Gemini (Gem)  ·  Contains:  PGC 1420191  ·  PGC 1420282  ·  PGC 1420816  ·  PGC 1421175  ·  PGC 1421568  ·  PGC 1422135  ·  PGC 1422206  ·  PGC 1424362  ·  PGC 1432041  ·  PK205+14.1  ·  Sh2-274
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The Medusa Nebula, Abell 21 (PK205+14.1, Sh2-274), Boris US5WU
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The Medusa Nebula, Abell 21 (PK205+14.1, Sh2-274)

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The Medusa Nebula, Abell 21 (PK205+14.1, Sh2-274), Boris US5WU
Powered byPixInsight

The Medusa Nebula, Abell 21 (PK205+14.1, Sh2-274)

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Description

The Medusa Nebula, Abell 21 (PK205+14.1, Sh2-274) is a planetary nebula in the constellation of Gemini.
Although Abell 21 has a large apparent diameter of 10 arcminutes, its surface brightness is so low, with features ranging from magnitude 16-25 and was originally discovered in 1955 by UCLA astronomer George O. Abell. It is a planetary nebula lying at a distance of 1,500 light-years, which gives it an estimated diameter of 4 light-years. The parent star, now a white dwarf, is thought to be the blue star near the center of the crescent. The braided filaments of the shell the star shed during its red giant phase resemble the serpents that comprise the hair of Medusa, giving the nebula its popular name, the Medusa Nebula. 

This image taken over several nights in March, April 2020.

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