Nebulae

There are several types of objects that come under the heading nebulae. Planetary Nebulae were so called because they resembled planets in early telescopes. They have nothing to do with planets, but rather are the death stage of stars similar to our Sun. Supernovae are also represent the death of stars, but much more massive ones. Emission Nebulae normally represent the birth place of stars and glow red due to the action of the heat of these very hot stars on the surrounding dust and gas. Reflection Nebulae reflect the light of not so hot nearby stars and are blue in colour. Dark Nebulae are not illuminated by embedded or nearby stars, but obscure starlight and so they look black.

Planetary Nebulae & Supernovae

M1/Crab	M1/Crab	M27/Dumbbell 12"	M27/Dumbbell 8"	M57/Ring 10"	M57/Ring 12"	M57/Ring 8"
M76/L. Dumb.	M97/Owl	M97/Owl	NGC6781	NGC688/Crescent	NGC6888/Cresc.	NGC7293/Helix
NGC7662	IC443

Emission Nebulae

M8 Lagoon	M16/Eagle 12"	M16/Eagle 8"	M16/Eagle 8"	M16/Eagle 3"	M17/Swan	M20/Trifid
M42	M42/Orion	M42/Orion	M42/Orion	NGC 281	NGC1499/Calif.	NGC2237/Rosette
NGC7000/NrthAmer.	NGC7000/NrthAmer.	M52&NGC7635	Bubble & M52	IC1318	IC1396	VDB142
IC5146/Cocoon

Reflection Nebulae

M78	NGC1977/R.Man

Dark Nebulae

B33/Horsehead

B33/Horsehead