Sh2-274 • Medusa Nebula

Sh2-274, also known as the Medusa Nebula, is a large and extremely faint planetary nebula located in the constellation Gemini. The nebula consists of delicate filamentary structures formed by the expanding shell of gas ejected by a dying star. Its twisted, serpentine appearance inspired the name “Medusa.” Sh2-274 is best captured using deep narrowband imaging, particularly in Hα and OIII, which reveal its complex and fragmented morphology. Due to its very low surface brightness, it is one of the more challenging planetary nebulae in the Sharpless catalog.