NebulaeBrianna Pace; Astronomy Project

Nebulae Definition

• Cosmic cloud of gas and dust floating in space• Basic building blocks of the universe – contains the

elements in which stars and solar systems are built out of• Comes from the Latin word for clouds – nube

Nebulae Beauty

• One of the most beautiful objects in the universe• Rich colors formed from different elements within the

nebula• Swirls of light• Large – dozens to even hundreds of light years across

Nebulae Elements

• Hydrogen – 90%• Helium – 10%• Heavy Elements (carbon, nitrogen, magnesium,

potassium, calcium, and iron) – 0.1%

Emission Nebulae

• Cloud of high temperature gas• Emit radiation• Tend to be red because of the large amount of hydrogen,

may see blue and green because of the other elements but red is the most prominent color

• Example is the Orion Nebula

Reflection Nebula

• Do not emit radiation• Cloud of dust and gas that reflects light• Frequently the sites of Star Formation• Tend to be blue because of the way the light is scattered,

blue light is scattered more efficiently• Example is the Trifid Nebula in Sagittarius

Dark Nebulae

• Cloud of dust that blocks light from objects behind it• Similar to Reflection Nebula – main difference is the

look because of placement of the light source• Usually seen around Reflection and Emission Nebulae• Example is the Horsehead Nebula – dark region of dust

in the shape of a horse’s head

Planetary Nebulae

• Shell of gas produced by a star that’s close to the end of its life cycle

• Have nothing to do with planets• Often look like planets due to their round shape• Illuminate by the remnants of the star that lies in the

center of the nebula• Example is the Ring Nebula in Lyra

Supernova Remnant

• Created when a star ends its life in an explosion• Explosion blows large amounts of star matter into space• Cloud glows with the remains of the star the created it• Example is the Crab Nebula – illuminated by a pulsar

which was created by a supernova

Stellar Nurseries

1. Supernova explodes

2. Clumps collect and gravity increases

3. Gravity presses the clumps together until they reach about 18 million degrees

4. Nuclear fusion happens – 2 hydrogen molecules slam together to become helium

5. Star is born

6. Smaller clumps start going around the star creating a new Solar System

7. Examples are the Eagle Nebula and the Orion Nebula

Other Information

• All stars, planets and solar systems started as nebulae• Nebula may go undisturbed for millions to billions of

years while it waits for the rights conditions• Many nebulae can be seen from earth using binoculars or

a telescope• Hubble telescope is able to show us nebulae that we

never even knew existed• Star formation is found in many galaxies that scientists

thought to be chemically inactive

Most Famous Nebulae

• Orion Nebula – M42• Lagoon Nebula – M8• Trifid Nebula – M20• Ring Nebula – M57• Dumbbell Nebula – M27• Crab Nebula – M1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynBFzS-M9HQ

Nebula Poem

The main sequence is endedthen death becomes life,diffused upon emptiness,spreading divine light.

Generating the sphere

The light decays into lifeand we are but deathembodied in flesh.

Generating the sphere

From a distance,and through the lens of time,Chaosseems still.

Generating the sphere

Our future foretoldby clouds in the void,behind their beautylies their violence.

In this placeanything that grows is dying.In this placeanything that dies is growing.

Pictures Of Nebulae

Work Consulted

• Aguilar, David A., Christine Pulliam, and Patricia Daniels. Space Encyclopedia.      Washington D.C.: National Geographic, 2013. Print. 

• Baumann, Mary K., et al. What's out There. London: Duncan Baird Publishers,      2005. Print. 

• "Nebulae." Journey Through The Galaxy. N.p., 11 Jan. 2006. Web. 8 May 2015.      <http://burro.astr.cwru.edu/stu/advanced/stars_nebulae.html>. 

• "Nebulae." The Sky. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 May 2015. <http://www.seasky.org>. • "Types of Nebulae." The Web Nebulae. Bill Arnett, 10 Feb. 1997. Web. 8

May 2015.      <http://astro.nineplanets.org/twn/types.html>.