|
|
What is a nebula and what will I see?
Home » Astronomy » What You Can See » What is a nebula and what will I see?Most nebulas are areas of gas and dust illuminated by nearby stars—some are very large and grand—while others are nothing more than a faint contrast change. Binoculars of all sizes are wonderful instruments for revealing nebulas because they often span huge portions of the sky. You can expect to see what looks like a pale glowing green or white cloud surrounding stars—the view depending on the nebula’s size and brightness. Some are misty faint and others can be seen unaided!
A small telescope at low power will reveal these glowing clouds like frozen smoke caught amongst the stars. For brighter ones, it is possible to make out areas of greater concentration and see smaller imbedded stars. Nebulas come in many types—such as remnants of dying stars or areas of star birth. A small telescope will help to reveal them.
A very large telescope begins resolution on nebulas. When first making the jump between a small scope and a large one, you might be disappointed because they no longer appear as bright—but the extra light gathering ability will allow you to see unusual details such as ribands and dark areas. Medium aperture, such as 8", is a wonderful tool for studying nebulas.
Related What You Can See Articles
- An Introduction to What You Can See
- What does the Moon look like?
- What details can I see on planets?
- What are double stars and what will I see?
- What is an open cluster and what will I see?
- What is a globular cluster and what will I see?
- What is a nebula and what will I see?
- What is a galaxy and what will I see?