Pictures of the Jellyfish Nebula

The Jellyfish Nebula - also known as IC 443 and Sh2-248 - is a supernova remnant located 5,000 lightyears away.

The glowing cosmic tendrils and fat bulbous 'head' are what give this deep-sky object its name, as it resembles a cosmic jellyfish floating through the Universe.

The Jellyfish Nebula is all that remains of a massive star that ran out of fuel and exploded as a supernova, leaving behind a shell of glowing gas.

Studies with the Chandra X-ray Observatory suggest that the explosion may have created a spinning neutron star known as a pulsar in the southern edge of the nebula.

Yet while it was the collapsing of a dying star that produced the Jellyfish Nebula, some of the leftover material may well coalesce and grow over time, eventually producing new stars and perhaps even new planetary systems.

Below is a selection of images of the Jellyfish Nebula captured by BBC Sky at Night Magazine readers and astrophotographers from around the world.

For advice on photographing the night sky, read our guide to astrophotography or our top tips on the best astrophotography cameras.

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