Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Gemini (Gem)  ·  Contains:  NGC 2395
Medusa Nebula (SH2-274), Rodney Watters
Medusa Nebula (SH2-274)
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Medusa Nebula (SH2-274)

Medusa Nebula (SH2-274), Rodney Watters
Medusa Nebula (SH2-274)
Powered byPixInsight

Medusa Nebula (SH2-274)

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Description

Planetary nebulae (PNs) are fascinating objects resulting the expulsion of gas emanating from a dying star. This gas is typically comprised of Hydrogen and Oxygen that has been ionised which will emit light at specific wavelengths. The name planetary nebula was mistakenly applied in the early days of astronomy science as they were mistaken for gas giant planets and whilst this confusion has been sorted, the name has stuck. This PN is so named due to the filaments of gas that are emerging from the object making for a likeness to the mythical Medusa and the myriad collection of snakes that Medusa has instead of hair. It may take a little imagination to see this but it is a great story all the same.

PNs are typically rather tiny being in the order of arc seconds to a few arc minutes in size and normally too small for the 1.5d FOV of my Tak TSA120. SH2-274 however is reasonably sized at 8 arc minutes and makes for a nice combination with the open cluster NGC 2395 in the same field. With this composition it makes it appear as if the PN is shooting off into the corner leaving a trail of stars behind it. The PN is located in the constellation of Gemini at a  distance of 1,500 light years.

Processing for this image was completed in Pixinsight with the broad steps being to process the Ha and OIII masters separately, combine them into a colour (starless) image and then copy in the RGB stars using the RC Astro Star Exterminator process.

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Medusa Nebula (SH2-274), Rodney Watters