IC 443 ) is a Galactic supernova remnant in the constellation Gemini. On the plan of the sky, it is located near the star Eta Geminorum. Its distance is roughly 5,000 light years from Earth.
![]() Part of the northeastern shell of IC 443, aka the Jellyfish Nebula | |
Other designations | IC 443, PGC 2817561, SNR G189.0+03.0, SNR G189.1+03.0, SNR G189.1-03.0 |
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Event type | Supernova remnant ![]() |
Spectral class | SN II (?) |
Observation | |
Location | |
Constellation | Gemini |
Right ascension | 06 17 13 |
Declination | +22° 31′ 05′′ |
Epoch | J2000 |
Galactic coordinates | G189.1+3.0 |
Distance | 5000 light-years, or 1.5 kpc |
Remnant | Mixed Morphology |
Host | Milky Way |
Characteristics | |
Notable features | Interaction with molecular clouds |
Energetics | |
See also | |
IC 443 (also known as the Jellyfish Nebula and Sharpless 248 (Sh2-248)) is a Galactic supernova remnant (SNR) in the constellation Gemini. On the plan of the sky, it is located near the star Eta Geminorum. Its distance is roughly 5,000 light years from Earth.
IC 443 may be the remains of a supernova that occurred 3,000 - 30,000 years ago. The same supernova event likely created the neutron star CXOU J061705.3+222127, the collapsed remnant of the stellar core. IC 443 is one of the best-studied cases of supernova remnants interacting with surrounding molecular clouds.