MY FAVORITE NEBULAE

If you don’t know what a nebula is, you’re definitely going to learn today! A nebula is essentially an area where a baby star could form, and nebulae are often referred to as star nurseries. They are basically big clouds of space gas formed from dying/dead stars, the literal embodiment of the circle of life.

Now that definitions are out of the way, let’s talk about one of the most interesting developments in nebula news that recently occurred. There was a 3D model of the intricate Cat’s Eye Nebula made by a team led by a high school graduate planning to attend Stanford. You can see the story on Science Alert.

This nebula is particularly interesting because it is classified as a planetary nebula, meaning it basically sort of looks like a planet. Clairmont’s model better explains and represents the inner workings of Cat’s Eye.

Another breathtaking nebula I’d like to honor is the Crab Nebula. It’s one of the first nebulae that I had ever seen, so it holds a special place in my heart.

The Crab Nebula is also visible from Earth, so download a star tracking app in order to find out which “star” in the sky is actually this nebula.

The final nebula that I will list is the Horsehead Nebula. If you haven’t guessed, its namesake is a literal horse head. NASA is just so creative with names! Anyways, here’s the nebula:

As you can see, it very obviously looks like the head of a horse.

Nebulae are a very interesting breed of space gas, and I find them very fascinating. I hope you do too!