Types of Nebulae

Types of Nebulae: real images of Emission nebula, Reflection nebula, Dark nebula, Planetary nebula and Supernova remnant, each labelled
Real images. Credits: NASA, ESA, M. Robberto (Space Telescope Science Institute/ESA) and the Hubble Space Telescope Orion Treasury Project Team; NASA/ESA and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI); NASA, NOAO, ESA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA); NASA, ESA, and C. Robert O’Dell (Vanderbilt University); NASA, ESA and Allison Loll/Jeff Hester (Arizona State University). Acknowledgement: Davide De Martin (ESA/Hubble).

5 types

Explore the main types of nebula, the clouds of gas and dust where stars are born and where they end their lives, in real Hubble images.

In this collection

  1. Emission Nebula
  2. Reflection Nebula
  3. Dark Nebula
  4. Planetary Nebula
  5. Supernova Remnant

Each type up close

About this topic

A nebula is a giant cloud of gas and dust in space. Some are nurseries where new stars are forming; others are made from material thrown off by dying stars. Astronomers group nebulae by how they shine, or whether they shine at all, and by how they formed.

The nebulae in our collection

TypeExample shownDistance from EarthHow it shines
Emission nebulaOrion Nebula (M42)About 1,500 light-yearsIts own gas glows, energised by hot young stars
Reflection nebulaNGC 1999About 1,500 light-yearsDust reflects light from a nearby star
Dark nebulaHorsehead NebulaAbout 1,400 light-yearsIt doesn’t; it blocks light from behind
Planetary nebulaRing Nebula (M57)About 2,000 to 2,500 light-yearsGas shed by a dying Sun-like star
Supernova remnantCrab Nebula (M1)About 6,500 light-yearsDebris from an exploded star

Distances are approximate; sources give slightly different values.

Sources

All Space & Astronomy