IC443 Jellyfish Nebula in Gemini

On the clear, cool (i.e. cold) evening of 30 December 2025 I pointed my ZenithStar 81 telescope at another target I had not observed before, namely IC 443, also known as the Jellyfish Nebula.

 

The Jellyfish is a supernova remnant located in the constellation Gemini, approximately 5,000 light-years from Earth and is estimated to be roughly 70 light-years in size. It is notable for its complex structure and interaction with surrounding molecular clouds, and is the remains of a supernova that may have occurred around 30,000 years ago.

The bright star near the nebula is called Propus, from the Greek word for "foot" as this star lies at the foot of the constellation Gemini. It is also designated as η Geminorum (eta Geminorum). It is a variable and multiple giant star in the constellation of Gemini. It is a relatively cool (3500K) orange red giant about 300 times the radius of the Sun which is almost the orbit of Venus.

 

 

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Telescope: William Optics ZenithStar 81 APO

Mount: SkyWatcher EQ6-R Pro

 

Controller: ZWO ASIAIR Plus 256G

Main Camera: ZWO ASI533MC Pro at -10C

Filter:Optolong L-eNhance filter

Focuser: ZWO EAF

Guide Camera: ZWO ASI290MM Mini guidecam

Guide via: William Optics Refractor 50/200 mm

 

Stacked from:

Lights: 65 at 180 seconds, gain 101, temp -10C

Darks: 30 at 180 seconds, gain 101, temp -10C

Flats: 30 at 8.9 seconds, gain 101, temp -10C

Dark Flats: 30 at 8.9 seconds, gain 101, temp -10C

 

Bortle 4 sky.

 

SW Tools:

Stacked in AstroPixelProcessor

Processed in PixInsight, stretched using Multiscale Adaptive Stretch,

Photoshop CS4 for labels.

 

 

Done