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7 votes
1 answer
461 views

Why is said that H-alpha emission lines are stronger than the other of the Balmer series?

H-alpha lines are usually the ones you see when observing most nebulae. If you search why is that, why are H-alpha lines more visible than H-beta, H-gamma or H-delta, the usual answer is that H-alpha ...
jack_O'Dim's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
1k views

Are these images of the same nebula?

This image from the Spitzer telescope is supposedly of the Orion nebula. But this image from the Chandra telescope also claims to be of the Orion nebula. I have been unable to confirm either of these ...
Deko Revinio's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
116 views

How tall are the pillars of creation? (angular and physical) How bright are they? [duplicate]

NASA's October 19, 2022 NASA’s Webb Takes Star-Filled Portrait of Pillars of Creation shows a sparkly and beautiful infrared image of the Astronomical elephant trunks known as the Pillars of Creation. ...
uhoh's user avatar
  • 30.7k
7 votes
2 answers
132 views

Could stars be seen from inside a nebula?

Nebulae look dark against the backdrop of stars, but how opaque are they likely to be from inside? In other words, if our Solar System had drifted into the middle of, say, the Horsehead Nebula, would ...
Mike Stone's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
122 views

Why is there a discrepancy with calculated and given age of nebula

In the book "Horizons: exploring the universe-Cengage learning (2018)", page 206, it states that: Simple observations tell astronomers about the nature of planetary nebulae. Their angular ...
Jack the Ranger's user avatar
19 votes
3 answers
3k views

Why can space telescopes see through a planetary nebula?

I recently read the book "An Introduction to Planetary Nebulae" by Jason J. Nishiyama. Although I'm not an astronomy student, I could at least understand the written texts and less the ...
kiaat's user avatar
  • 193
4 votes
0 answers
85 views

From what distance could the Sun's planetary nebula be seen entirely with free eye?

When collapsing to a white dwarf, a red giant Sun would emit a planetary nebula. How far from the Sun would that nebula stretch at most? Also: At about what distance could you see the planetary nebula ...
Plutos Loyer's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
204 views

Why was StDr56 discovered only now?

StDr56 is a newly discovered planetary nebula (maybe). link1 link2 It was found by amateur astronomers Marcel Drechsler and Xavier Strottner. According to the above articles, it's pretty big: With an ...
Gimelist's user avatar
  • 183
3 votes
1 answer
2k views

How to visually tell the difference between a planetary nebula and a supernova remnant?

If we see a nebula by looking through a powerful telescope, how can we tell whether we are looking at the remnant of a supernova or at a planetary nebula? Thanks
Aspiring Mathematician's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
209 views

How long do hot X-ray sources last?

Some X-ray sources in nebulae are caused by hot materials in the millions of degrees that formed in supernovae. What's the cooling rate of this stuff? How long does it stay this hot? If we would take ...
Gimelist's user avatar
  • 183
2 votes
3 answers
12k views

How can I see a nebula?

I've recently been seeing a bunch of pictures of nebulae and I'm just fascinated by their beauty and complexity. Is there any kind of telescope that would make it possible to view it from here on ...
Y.G.'s user avatar
  • 123