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Nebulae

A generic term for a fuzzy, diffuse astronomical object. Astronomers have observed four different types of nebulae: H II regions, reflection nebulae, planetary nebulae, and supernova remnants.

Featured Images

VLT image of three galactic nebulae: M17, M16, and Sharpless 2-54

Galactic Nurseries June 29, 2017
NGC 6334 and NGC 6357

Galactic Menagerie February 2, 2017
Infrared view of Orion Nebula and surrounding clouds of gas and dust

Making Stars January 5, 2017
Hubble Space Telescope view of NGC 248 in the Small Magellanic Cloud

Bright Gas December 22, 2016
Ultraviolet views of Z Camelopardalis, an erupting binary system

Popping Off October 22, 2016

Cloudy California October 3, 2016
Infrared view of the Orion Nebula

Brilliant Nursery July 12, 2016
Hubble view of Bubble Nebula

Bubbly Star April 21, 2016
Hubble view of the Crab Nebula

Spectacular Crab December 14, 2015
Planetary nebula known as the Eskimo Nebula

Cyclops? November 29, 2015
Hubble view of the Eta Carinae system

The Homunculus October 21, 2015
Hubble Space Telescope image of the Lagoon Nebula

Colorful Lagoon July 31, 2015
Hubble Space Telescope image of a young star cluster

Anniversary Portrait April 23, 2015
Elephant Trunk Nebulan

Elephant's Trunk October 12, 2014
NGC 3590

Young and Future Stars May 22, 2014
Space-based infrared view of the Rosette Nebula

Ruffled Rose February 28, 2014
NGC 2264, a stellar nursery in Monoceros

Star Factory February 26, 2014
Close-up view of the California Nebula in infrared light.

California Nebula January 25, 2014
Close-up Hubble Space Telescope view of the Orion Nebula

Beautiful Birthplace January 23, 2014
RS Puppis, a supergiant star seen by Hubble Space Telescope

Dusty Skies December 18, 2013
The Cat's Paw Nebula in submillimeter and near-infrared light

Star Maker September 27, 2013
Dumbbell Nebula, M27

Grand Finale September 24, 2013
View of the 30 Doradus star cluster and the massive binary system R144

Megastars July 9, 2013
Starbirth region on the edge of the Milky Way galaxy

Starbirth June 6, 2013
The Pencil Nebula, a portion of the giant Vela Supernova Remnant

Blast from the Past April 4, 2013
Star forming region in Orion

Hiding Places January 23, 2013
The Lagoon Nebula, M8, from the European Southern Observatory

Pink Lagoon July 26, 2012
Infrared image of the Carina Nebula from space-based Herschel Observatory

Busy Nursery June 6, 2012
Newborn stars in the Orion Nebula

Bright Babies March 1, 2012
The Carina Nebula, a massive stellar nursery

Star Factory February 13, 2012
Infrared view of starbirth in the vast nebula complex Cygnus X

Busy Nursery January 13, 2012
Horsehead Nebula photographed through a McDonald Observatory telescope

3D Horsehead December 20, 2011
Optical and radio image of the Carina Nebula, a vast stellar nursery

Birthplace of the Stars November 17, 2011
IC 2944, a stellar nursery in the constellation Centaurus

Seeing Red September 22, 2011
A view of NGC 3582, a large stellar nursery in Karina

Life and Death April 19, 2011
Streamers of dust partially obscure the "seven sisters," members of the Pleiades

Veiled Sisters April 6, 2011
New stars and the raw materials for more stars in the stellar nursery NGC 6729

Star Maker March 24, 2011
M78, a reflection nebula in Orion

Beautiful Reflection February 21, 2011
False-color image of Orion Nebula from European Southern Observatory

Delicate Power January 21, 2011
The Horsehead Nebula

Galloping Nebula January 8, 2011
Infrared image of the Lagoon Nebula

Blue Lagoon January 6, 2011
Visible and X-ray image of a supernova remnant in the Large Magellanic Cloud

Holiday Decoration December 16, 2010
IC 2118, the Witch Head Nebula

Witch Head Nebula November 26, 2010
The California Nebula, in Perseus

Stately Nebula November 6, 2010
Messier 27

Heavy Lifting August 7, 2010
The remains of a supernova explosion form complex loops and filaments in this co

Colorful Aftermath May 27, 2010
Starbirth Factories

Starbirth Factories May 24, 2010

Star Nursery February 10, 2010

Radio Programs

Vela Nursery Sailing into a young stellar nursery April 2, 2017

More Pleiades Reflections on a bright cloud November 18, 2016

Z Camelopardalis From a flashlight to a searchlight October 28, 2016

California Nebula Lighting up a dark cloud October 8, 2016

Tarantula Nebula Making stars by the basketful July 5, 2016

Horsehead Nebula Destroying a dark horsehead February 13, 2016

IC 1396 A busy stellar nursery January 28, 2016

Orion Nebula Looking into a cradle of young stars December 2, 2015

Homunculus Nebula A giant star blows giant bubbles October 20, 2015

Eagles Celestial eagles take wing September 12, 2015

Polaris Flare A future stellar nursery August 19, 2015

Interstellar Clouds Looking into cloudy evening skies April 9, 2015

Monoceros Creating a celestial unicorn February 8, 2015

The Elephant’s Trunk An elephant’s trunk in the northern sky October 11, 2014

Construction Zone A busy construction zone around a star August 10, 2014

The Brick Building a future stellar nursery July 27, 2014

Sagittarius A steaming teapot in the southern sky July 23, 2014

Eagle Nebula Inspirational beauty in the southern sky June 20, 2014

Rosette Nebula A colorful stellar birthplace February 27, 2014

Cone Nebula A small, dark “horn” for the unicorn February 26, 2014

NGC 2264 Lighting up a stellar nursery February 25, 2014

California Nebula California in the stars January 24, 2014

Orion Nebula A busy stellar nursery January 22, 2014

Barnard 68 Lighting up a dark cloud July 6, 2013

Vela A giant cloud of stellar debris April 3, 2013

Guitar Nebula Strumming a few astronomical notes March 15, 2013

Steamy Sights Steamy sights in the southern sky July 25, 2012

Pipe Nebula Lighting up a dark nebula June 16, 2012