Is a Nebula bigger than a galaxy?
The main thing to note is that they differ greatly by their size and while, galaxies posses many stars, a nebula is just the beginning or end of one star. Nebula is a cloud of interstellar dust, while galaxy is a huge collection of stars. Size of a galaxy is much larger than size of a nebula. Nebula cause star formation.
What is the difference between a Nebula and a molecular cloud?
Key Difference: Nebula is a cloud of dust in deep space. Whereas, a molecular cloud is a type of nebula. The formation of molecules is permitted due to its density and size. Nebula is a cloud of gas and dust in space. The word Nebula has been derived from the Latin word, meaning "cloud".
What is the difference between a constellation and a Nebula?
‘`extragalactic nebula' is a former name for `galaxy'’; Constellation noun A cluster or group of fixed stars, or division of the heavens, designated in most cases by the name of some animal, or of some mythologial personage, within whose imaginary outline, as traced upon the heavens, the group is included.
What are the similarities between a Nebula and a supernova?
- Our own sun may eject a similar planetary nebula some 6 billion years from now.
- These stars have everything around them with intense radiation, making the dust and gas in the nebula grow.
- The nebula becomes rocky and lumpy, the reasons are still mysterious.
What is a nebula?
Watch this video to learn all about nebulae! A nebula is a giant cloud of dust and gas in space. Some nebulae (more than one nebula) come from the gas and dust thrown out by the explosion of a dying star, such as a supernova. Other nebulae are regions where new stars are beginning to form.
Where is the Helix Nebula located?
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope captured this image of the Helix Nebula, which is located in the constellation Aquarius -about 700 light-years away from Earth. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona.
What are the pillars of creation in the Eagle Nebula?
Other nebulae are regions where new stars are beginning to form. For this reason, some nebulae are called "star nurseries.". These towers of cosmic dust and gas make up part of the Eagle Nebula. These so-called Pillars of Creation are part of an active star-forming region within the nebula.
How far away is the helix nebula from Earth?
The closest known nebula to Earth is called the Helix Nebula. It is the remnant of a dying star—possibly one like the Sun. It is approximately 700 light-years away from Earth. That means even if you could travel at the speed of light, it would still take you 700 years to get there!
How does gravity affect a nebula?
The dust and gases in a nebula are very spread out , but gravity can slowly begin to pull together clumps of dust and gas. As these clumps get bigger and bigger, their gravity gets stronger and stronger. Eventually, the clump of dust and gas gets so big that it collapses from its own gravity. The collapse causes the material at the center ...
What are the dots in the Carina Nebula?
In this image of the Carina Nebula, you can spot tiny yellow and white dots inside pink dust clouds. Those tiny dots are newly-formed stars! Credit NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Colorado. Nebulae are made of dust and gases—mostly hydrogen and helium.
What is a nebula?
A nebula ( Latin for 'cloud' or 'fog'; pl. nebulae, nebulæ or nebulas) is an interstellar cloud of dust, hydrogen, helium and other ionized gases. Originally, the term was used to describe any diffused astronomical object, including galaxies beyond the Milky Way. The Andromeda Galaxy, for instance, was once referred to as the Andromeda Nebula ...
How big are nebulas?
He also helped categorize nebulae based on the type of light spectra they produced. Most nebulae are of vast size; some are hundreds of light-years in diameter. A nebula that is visible to the human eye from Earth would appear larger, but no brighter, from close by.
What is the name of the supernova in Taurus?
One of the best examples of this is the Crab Nebula, in Taurus. The supernova event was recorded in the year 1054 and is labeled SN 1054. The compact object that was created after the explosion lies in the center of the Crab Nebula and its core is now a neutron star . Still other nebulae form as planetary nebulae.
How did the planetary nebula get its name?
Planetary nebulae were given their name by the first astronomical observers who were initially unable to distinguish them from planets, and who tended to confuse them with planets, which were of more interest to them. Our Sun is expected to spawn a planetary nebula about 12 billion years after its formation.
What are some examples of nebulae?
One of the best examples of this is the Crab Nebula, in Taurus.
How do supernovae occur?
A supernova occurs when a high-mass star reaches the end of its life. When nuclear fusion in the core of the star stops, the star collapses . The gas falling inward either rebounds or gets so strongly heated that it expands outwards from the core, thus causing the star to explode. The expanding shell of gas forms a supernova remnant, a special diffuse nebula. Although much of the optical and X-ray emission from supernova remnants originates from ionized gas, a great amount of the radio emission is a form of non-thermal emission called synchrotron emission. This emission originates from high-velocity electrons oscillating within magnetic fields .
What star cluster was discovered by the astronomers in 1054?
He also cataloged the Omicron Velorum star cluster as a "nebulous star" and other nebulous objects, such as Brocchi's Cluster. The supernova that created the Crab Nebula, the SN 1054, was observed by Arabic and Chinese astronomers in 1054.
What is the difference between a nebula and a galaxy?
Nebula is a cloud of interstellar dust and other ionized gasses particularly helium and hydrogen. A galaxy on the other hand is a huge collection of stars that are held together by gravitational attraction. A galaxy contains star systems, star clusters along with interstellar dust.
What are the different types of nebulae?
There classifications are however different than those of galaxies. Mainly nebulae are categorized in to the following four types: (a) emission nebulae ( b) HII regions (c) supernova remnants (d)dark nebulae.
What happens when a lot of mass accumulates in a nebula?
When a lot of mass accumulates within a nebula the gravitational attraction increases and the nebula collapses to form a star. This does not happen with a galaxy meaning that the galaxy as a whole does not collapse to give birth to a star. Galaxies exist in different shapes and sizes and also with varying brightness.
How many stars can a nebula have?
This is because a nebula is just one thing in a vast galaxy that can constitute up to more than millions of stars. The life of a galaxy is thus connected with the lives of all the stars within it. This also means that if a galaxy implodes, millions or billions of stars will die with it, but a nebula only results in one star death.
How are galaxies classified?
They are thus classified based on these factors. Generally they are classified into three broad categories: (a)spiral (b) elliptical (c) irregular. Nebulae are also generally classified on basis of their structure.
Where are galaxies found?
Galaxies are also found in the space in forms of clusters or groups, no such pattern has yet been observed for nebulae. Galaxies and nebulae are different features of the vast universe that we live in.
Is a nebula a galaxy?
Nebula is a cloud of interstellar dust, while galaxy is a huge collection of stars. Size of a galaxy is much larger than size of a nebula. Nebula cause star formation. Nebula is present within a galaxy. Galaxy cannot be present within a nebula.
Nebula vs Galaxy
The difference between nebula and galaxy is that nebula means a cloud literally. But this isn’t just the function of the nebula. Nebula is particularly helium and hydrogen, a cloud of interstellar dust and other ionized gases. On the other hand, a galaxy is a large array of stars bound together by gravity.
What is Nebula?
Nebulae are a broad group of cosmic gas and fragments of dust. Most nebulae can be construed as a denser area of the interstellar medium that accretes below gravity; others remain of stars after their lifespan. The primary components are helium and hydrogen. However, there could be other components of different quantities.
What is Galaxy?
Huge star collections and vast interstellar gas clouds constitute the galaxies. Until the late 18th and 19th centuries, the great superstructures of the star were not adequately defined and observed. They are then thought of as nebulae. These star collections lie outside the Milky Way. This is our star collection.
Conclusion
In space clusters, galaxies can be located. In space, nebulae are clouds of dust and gases (sometimes rests of an exploding star), while galaxies are groups of stars, planets, and other interstellar components, connected by gravity. In galaxies, nebulae are discovered.
Overview
A nebula (Latin for 'cloud' or 'fog'; pl. nebulae, nebulæ or nebulas ) is a distinct body of interstellar clouds (which can consist of cosmic dust, hydrogen, helium, molecular clouds; possibly as ionized gases). Originally, the term was used to describe any diffused astronomical object, including galaxies beyond the Milky Way. The Andromeda Galaxy, for instance, was once referred to as the Androm…
Observational history
Around 150 AD, Ptolemy recorded, in books VII–VIII of his Almagest, five stars that appeared nebulous. He also noted a region of nebulosity between the constellations Ursa Major and Leo that was not associated with any star. The first true nebula, as distinct from a star cluster, was mentioned by the Persian astronomer Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi, in his Book of Fixed Stars (964). He noted "…
Formation
There are a variety of formation mechanisms for the different types of nebulae. Some nebulae form from gas that is already in the interstellar medium while others are produced by stars. Examples of the former case are giant molecular clouds, the coldest, densest phase of interstellar gas, which can form by the cooling and condensation of more diffuse gas. Examples of the latter case ar…
Types
• Herbig–Haro HH 161 and HH 164.
• The Omega Nebula, an example of an emission nebula
• The Horsehead Nebula, an example of a dark nebula.
• The Cat's Eye Nebula, an example of a planetary nebula.
Examples
• Ant Nebula
• Barnard's Loop
• Boomerang Nebula
• Cat's Eye Nebula
• Crab Nebula
See also
• H I region
• H II region
• List of largest nebulae
• List of diffuse nebulae
• Lists of nebulae
External links
• Nebulae, SEDS Messier Pages
• Fusedweb.pppl.gov
• Information on star formation, geocities.com
• Historical pictures of nebulae, digital library of Paris Observatory