Fine dust in the nebula reflects the light. The blue color is caused not only by Rigel's blue color but because the dust grains reflect blue light more efficiently than red. In astronomy, reflection nebulae …

Reflection nebula, interstellar cloud that would normally be a dark nebula (or molecular cloud) but whose dust reflects the light from a nearby bright star that is not hot enough to ionize the cloud’s hydrogen.

Aug 7, 2025 · Reflection nebulae reflect the light from nearby stars. The stars that illuminate them aren’t powerful enough to ionize the nebula’s gas, as with emission nebulae, but their light scatters through …

Jan 10, 2026 · A reflection nebula is a cloud of interstellar gas and dust that becomes visible by reflecting the light of a nearby star or group of stars. These nebulae act like a cosmic screen, …

A reflection nebula is created when light from a star is scattered or reflected off a neighbouring dust cloud. The scattered light is slightly polarised and has a spectrum similar to that of the illuminating …

What is a reflection nebula? A reflection nebula is a cloud of gas and dust which does not create its own light, but instead shines by reflecting the light from nearby stars.

Dec 9, 2025 · What is a Reflection Nebula? A reflection nebula is a type of interstellar cloud that reflects the light of nearby stars. Unlike emission nebulae, which emit their own light due to the ionization of …

Feb 2, 2026 · The nebula spans about 15 light years and lies about 1,500 light years away. Sh 2-279 (alternatively designated S279 or Sharpless 279) is an HII region and bright nebulae that includes a …

Reflection nebula are clouds of dust which are simply reflecting the light of a nearby star or stars. The energy from the nearby stars is insufficient to ionize the gas of the nebula to create an emission …

The nebula, cataloged as NGC 1999, is a reflection nebula, which shines by reflecting light from a nearby star. Unlike emission nebulae, whose reddish glow comes from excited atoms of gas, …