Medusa Nebula

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This article is about a planetary nebula. For the Medusa Galaxy Merger, see NGC 4194.

Observation data (Epoch J2000.0)
Medusa Nebula
Right ascension	07^h 29^m 02.707^s^[1]
Declination	+13° 14′ 48.77″^[1]
Distance	1000 ly (300 pc)^{[citation needed]}
Apparent magnitude (V)	15.99^[1]
Apparent dimensions (V)	10′.2^{[citation needed]}
Constellation	Gemini
Physical characteristics
Notable features	Very large & very low surface brightness
Other designations	Sharpless 2-274, PK 205+14 1,^[1] PN G205.1+14.2^[1]
See also: Planetary nebula, Lists of nebulae

The Medusa Nebula is a very old and large planetary nebula in the constellation of Gemini on the Canis Minor border. As it is so big, its surface brightness is very low, with surface magnitudes of between +15.99 and +25 reported. Because of this most websites recommend at least an 8-inch telescope with an [O III] filter to find this object although probably possible to image with smaller apertures.^{[citation needed]} The Medusa was discovered in 1955, and until the early 1980s it was thought to be a supernova remnant.