The nebula is a large supernova remnant, an expanding cloud born of the death explosion of a massive star.
However, if the supernova remnant exceeds three solar masses, conventional physics suggests a black hole should be left behind.
In fact, the cosmic jellyfish is seen to be part of bubble-shaped supernova remnant IC 443, the expanding debris cloud from a massive star that exploded.
Besides supernova remnants, these shock models are important in understanding a wide range of astrophysical phenomena, ranging from winds in newly-formed stars to cataclysmic stellar outbursts.
