Nebulae

Nebulae are vast clouds of gas and dust that exist between stars in space. Some nebulae are regions where new stars are born, as gravity gathers clouds of gas until they become dense enough to form stars.

Others are the remains of dying stars, such as the glowing shells created after certain stars explode or release their outer layers. These different types of nebulae help scientists study how stars are formed, evolve, and disappear.

Nebulae can have many shapes and sizes, often extending across several light-years. Their colors, when captured by telescopes, come from different processes involving gases that absorb or emit light.

The famous Orion Nebula, located in the Milky Way, is one of the closest large regions where new stars are forming. By observing nebulae, astronomers gain important information about the life cycle of stars and the materials that make up the universe.