Sh2-274

The Medusa Nebula, also known as Sharpless 2-274, is a planetary nebula located in the constellation Gemini. Nicknamed "Medusa" for its resemblance to the head of a star in Greek mythology, it was formed by the death of a Sun-like star that expelled its outer layers of gas as it evolved into a white dwarf. Located about 1,500 light-years from Earth, it has a diameter of about four light-years. It is distinguished by complex structures, such as arcs, filaments, and shells, resulting from interactions between the ejected material and the interstellar medium.