Nebulae

Nebulae are gigantic clouds of gas and dust found throughout galaxies. They are often the nurseries where new stars are born. As gravity pulls together clumps of gas and dust, regions within a nebula can collapse and ignite to form new stars and planetary systems. Some nebulae are created when massive stars die and shed their outer layers, like the beautiful Ring Nebula or the Crab Nebula, which is the remnant of a supernova. Others, such as the Eagle Nebula, are famous for their striking “Pillars of Creation,” where dense columns of gas are illuminated by newborn stars.