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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

Infrared view of the Coronet star cluster, a stellar nursery

Spidery Nebula May 18, 2023

Colorful Aftermath April 13, 2023

Bright blue stars in front of a background of colorful filaments of gas and dust

Colorful Debris April 7, 2023

a huge cloud of gas and newly forming stars make up the vulpecula OB-1 association

Future Fireworks March 18, 2023

jwst image of a star that will explode as a supernova

Future Blast March 14, 2023

james webb telescope view of a dark stellar nursery

Dark Nursery January 24, 2023

james webb space telescope view of the pillars of creation

New Look at Starbirth October 23, 2022

james webb space telescope image of tarantula nebula

Stars Galore September 9, 2022

cocoon nebula

Bright and Dark August 22, 2022

composite view of tarantula nebula

Spidery Star Lanes June 16, 2022

Star-forming regions on the edge of the Local Bubble

Bubbly Surroundings March 31, 2022

seagull nebula

Graceful Seagull March 29, 2022

Spirograph Nebula, in Lepus

Emerging from the Cocoon January 28, 2022

Veil Nebula in Cygnus seen by HST

Cosmic Veil January 27, 2022

possible protostar in chamaeleon nebula

New Light December 9, 2021

flaming star nebula

Setting the Sky Ablaze December 4, 2021

dust in flame nebula

Dark Flame November 24, 2021

rcw 120, a busy stellar nursery

Stellar Bubble September 5, 2021

A stellar nursery known as the Pillars of Creation

Pillars of Creation August 8, 2021

Multi-spectral view of Cassiopeia A, a supernova remnant

Brilliant Demise October 26, 2020

ngc 2014, ngc 2020

Stellar Reef April 25, 2020

Vela Supernova Remnant

Big Bubble April 11, 2020

Rotten Egg Nebula

Death Throes February 16, 2020

Rosette Nebula

A Big Rose January 26, 2020

Perseus Molecular Cloud in Infrared

Stellar Nursery December 27, 2019

Infrared view of Lambda Centauri Nebula

A WISE spacecraft December 14, 2019

Segment of Veil Nebula

Unveiling a Supernova August 30, 2019

Infrared view of a stellar nursery in Cepheus

Busy Nursery June 3, 2019

composite image of a "cannonball" pulsar

Fire! April 5, 2019

W40 stellar nursery

Delicate Butterfly March 28, 2019

ngc 2264

Rolling Starbirth February 12, 2019

A stellar nursery in the Large Magellanic Cloud

Blowing Bubbles February 6, 2019

A combination of star-forming regions and the remains of an exploded star, seen in the infrared

Birth and Death August 3, 2018

Tycho's Supernova

Death Mask July 17, 2018

M97, the Owl Nebula, in Ursa Major

It's a Hoot March 17, 2018

Lupus 3 star forming region

Light and Dark February 8, 2018

Orion's Belt

Shiny Belt January 6, 2018

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

Radio Programs

Moon and Antares Lighting up a stellar nursery April 9, 2023

Vela A giant cloud of stellar debris April 7, 2023

Vulpecula Future fireworks for the fox March 18, 2023

Halloween Ghosts, witches, and demons October 31, 2022

Elephant’s Trunk A disappearing elephant’s trunk October 29, 2022

Cocoon Nebula Bright and dark stellar nurseries August 22, 2022

Steamy Nights Steamy sights in the southern sky August 16, 2022

Sweet Cloud Young stars and raspberry rum July 18, 2022

Owl Nebula Dark “eyes” for a cosmic owl March 30, 2022

Seagull Nebula A giant seagull in the evening sky March 29, 2022

Veil Nebula The remnant of an exploded star January 27, 2022

Flaming Nebula Setting a nebula aflame December 4, 2021

VY Canis Majoris A brilliant, messy star October 11, 2021

Making More Stars Quick births in a stellar nursery September 5, 2021

Eagle Nebula The “eggs” of a celestial eagle August 8, 2021

More Cassiopeia A Forging big batches of chemical elements October 27, 2020

Dumbbell Nebula A brilliant final act September 20, 2020

Caroline’s Rose A beautiful stellar “rose” September 9, 2020

Cygnus Superbubble Blowing a giant “bubble” in space August 30, 2020

Sadr Playing tricks in the night sky August 13, 2020

Red Square A star’s beautiful demise July 7, 2020

Vela Supernova Inflating a giant bubble April 11, 2020

NGC 246 Sculpting a bright skull February 26, 2020

Unicorn Clouds Young stars for the unicorn January 26, 2020

Monoceros Outlining the celestial unicorn January 25, 2020

Witch Head Nebula Illuminating the face of a witch January 20, 2020

Veil Nebula Unveiling a cosmic explosion August 30, 2019

Stellar Nurseries A busy stellar nursery August 29, 2019

Cloudy Skies Flickering clouds near young stars March 29, 2019

Barnard 68 The birthplace of future stars June 7, 2018

Pipe Nebula Puffing through the Milky Way June 6, 2018

Crab Nebula Sculpting an interstellar crab April 19, 2018

NGC 2467 Three clusters for the price of one April 10, 2018

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