Nebulae

CHANTELLE KIESSNER
ASTRONOMY CE B2

Definition

Initially, nebula was a name for any astronomical objects, including

galaxies beyond the Milky Way.

Now, it refers to an interstellar cloud of dust, hydrogen, helium, and other

ionized gases.

Creation

Most nebulae are formed from the gravitational collapse of gas in the
interstellar medium. As it collapses, massive stars may form in the center,
and their ultraviolet radiation ionizes the surrounding gas, making it visible
at optical wavelengths.

Others are formed as the result of supernova explosions, massive short-lived

stars. The materials released from the explosion are ionized by energy and
the compact energy it can produce.

Other nebulae can form as planetary nebulae, the final stage of a lowmass stars life slowly lose their outer layers, resulting in an increase in
temperatures and the ultraviolet radiation it emits ionizes the surrounding
nebula that it has thrown off.

Types of Nebula

Planetary Nebulae: form from the gaseous shells that are ejected form lowmass asymptotic giant branch stars when they form into white dwarfs. They are
emission nebulae with spectra similar to those of emission nebulae found in star
formation regions.

Protoplanetary Nebulae (PPN): an astronomical object which is the short-lived

episode during a stars rapid stellar evolution between the late asymptotic
giant branch phase and the subsequent planetary nebula phase. They emit
strongly in infrared radiation and is a kind of reflection nebula.

Supernova Remnants: When a high-mass star reaches the end of its life and the
nuclear fusion in the core of the star stars, the star collapses. The gas falling
inward either rebounds or gets so strongly heated that it expands outward from
the core thus causing the star to explode. The expanding shell of gas forms a
supernova remnant, a special diffuse nebula.

Types of Nebulae Continued

Diffuse Nebulae: Nebulae that are extended and contain no well-defined

boundaries.

Dark Nebulae: an interstellar cloud so dense that it obscures the light of

objects behind it, such as background stars and emission or reflection
nebulae.

Types of Nebulae and Examples

Emission nebula: the Omega Nebula

Dark nebula: Horsehead nebula

Protoplanetary nebula: Red Rectangle Nebula

Facts

They range in size from millions of miles across to hundreds of light years
across.

Nebulas are mostly composed of hydrogen along with smaller amounts of

other gases and dust particles.

Stars and planetary systems are formed from the gas and dust within
nebulae.

The word nebula is derived from the Latin word for cloud, the plural of
nebula is nebulae, although nebulas is also used.

The Orion Nebula is the closest star forming region to Earth, it lies 1,300 light
years away and is thought to be around 25 light years across.

Facts Continued

The names they are given often reflect the familiar shapes they form into,
such as the Butterfly Nebula, Lemon Slice Nebula or North America
Nebula.

Very large dark nebulae can often be seen with the naked eye as dark
patches against the brighter areas of the Milky Way.

Hubble Images of Nebulae

Carina Nebulas Great Clouds

Reflection Nebula
In Orion

Spirograph Nebula

Crab Nebula

Hubble images of Nebulae

Ant Nebula
Hourglass Nebula
Ring Nebula

Overview of some
famous sights in the
Eagle Nebula

Bibliography

http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/nebula/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebula

http://www.space.com/17715-planetary-nebula.html

http://www.solarsystemquick.com/universe/nebulae.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_Nebula