Nebulae - Celestial Objects, Interstellar Clouds, Star-Forming Regions - A nebula is a vast cloud of gas and dust in space, often serving as a stellar nursery where new stars are born. Nebulae vary in shape, composition, and brightness, and they are classified into several types: emission nebulae (such as the Orion Nebula, which glow due to ionized gas), reflection nebulae (which scatter light from nearby stars), dark nebulae (dense regions of gas and dust that block background light), and planetary nebulae (expanding shells of gas ejected by dying stars). One of the most famous nebulae is the Eagle Nebula, home to the "Pillars of Creation," where active star formation is occurring. Supernova remnants, such as the Crab Nebula, are created by the explosive deaths of massive stars. Nebulae play a crucial role in the life cycle of stars, as their dense regions collapse under gravity to form new stellar systems. Modern telescopes, such as James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), provide stunning infrared images of nebulae, allowing scientists to study the process of star and planet formation.
