Nebula
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A nebula (Latin: "mist"; pl. nebulae or nebulæ, with ligature; from Latin nebula, "formation") is an interstellar cloud of dust, hydrogen gas and plasma. Originally nebula was a general name for any extended astronomical object, including galaxies beyond the Milky Way (some examples of the older usage survive; for example, the Andromeda Galaxy was referred to as the Andromeda Nebula before galaxies were discovered by Edwin Hubble). Nebulae often form star-forming regions, such as in the Eagle Nebula. This nebula is depicted in one of NASA's most famous images, of the "Pillars of Creation". In these regions the formations of gas, dust and other materials 'clump' together to form larger masses, which attract further matter, and eventually will become big enough to form stars. The remaining materials are then believed to form planets, and other solar system objects.
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[edit] The formation of nebulae
Many nebulae are formed as the result of supernova explosions. One of the best examples of this is the Crab Nebula, in Taurus. It is the result of a recorded supernova in 1054 AD. At the center of the nebula is a neutron star, created during the explosion. Other nebulae may form as planetary nebulae. Again these are created near the end of a star's life; when a star with a mass of under 1.4 solar masses becomes a red giant. An outer layer of light Hydrogen gas is ejected from the star as the fusion process slows, and the star becomes unable to sustain its entire mass.
[edit] Notable named nebulae
[edit] See also
- Emission nebula
- Reflection nebula
- Planetary nebula
- Solar nebula
- Timeline of the interstellar medium and intergalactic medium
- Messier object
[edit] External links
- [[1]] - information on star formation
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