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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