Can a nebula only become a star?

Nebulae are often star-forming regions, such as in the “Pillars of Creation” in the Eagle Nebula. In these regions, the formations of gas, dust, and other materials “clump” together to form denser regions, which attract further matter, and eventually will become dense enough to form stars.

Can planets exist in a nebula?

The answer would be yes. As the planet orbits its star that orbits the center of the galaxy, the planet and its star could enter a nebula and pass through that nebula for thousands or millions of years and then emerge on the other side of the nebula.

How can a planetary nebula be identified?

Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian scientists study planetary nebulas in several different ways: Identifying the atoms and molecules within planetary nebulas, mostly through the infrared light they emit and absorb. Infrared light can pierce through clouds of gas and dust, which are opaque to visible light.

What causes a star to form from a nebula?

Star Forming Nebula Stars are born in clouds of gas and dust. These knots contain sufficient mass that the gas and dust can begin to collapse from gravitational attraction. As it collapses, pressure from gravity causes the material at the center to heat up, creating a protostar.

Is the Orion nebula a planetary nebula?

The nebula has revealed much about the process of how stars and planetary systems are formed from collapsing clouds of gas and dust….Orion Nebula.

What type of star will form a planetary nebula?

white dwarf
Smaller stars like our sun end their lives by ejecting their outer layers of gas into space over the course of about 10,000 years, leaving behind the star’s hot core — a white dwarf. Radiation from the white dwarf causes the gas to glow, creating a unique and beautiful formation called a planetary nebula.

What elements are in a planetary nebula?

A planetary nebula is a huge shell of gas and dust ejected during the last stage (red giant) of the life of a medium star. Elements such as helium, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, neon and smaller amounts of heavier elements are present.

Is Orion Nebula A star?

The Orion Nebula is part of a larger stellar network — the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex (also known as the Orion Complex), one of the most active star-forming regions visible in the sky, according to the science communication website The Planets.

Are there planets in the Orion Nebula?

Stars and planets form in clouds of dust and gas called nebulae. One of the nearest is the Orion Nebula. The planets found in this image are unlikely to be habitable because they do not orbit stars. Instead they are floating freely in space.

How is planetary nebula created?

A planetary nebula forms when a star can no longer support itself by fusion reactions in its center. The gravity from the material in the outer part of the star takes its inevitable toll on the structure of the star, and forces the inner parts to condense and heat up.

Can planets form without a star?

Absolutely. But you might be surprised to find that planets can exist in several other iterations, too. We’re not quite certain how planets form without stars. But scientists do know that some wandering planets without a sun (also called runaway planets) broke away from their star after birth.

How do planetary nebulae form stars?

Planetary nebula is not a place in space which allows star formation; star formation takes place generally in molecular clouds which has high temp,pressure density etc needed for formation of a star.

How long do planetary nebulae last?

Planetary nebula are relatively short-lived, and last just a few tens of thousands of years. As the outer layers drift away from the star, the remaining core shines brightly and is very hot (100,000°C+) – the core is now a white dwarf star.

Which place in space allows star formation?

Planetary nebula is not a place in space which allows star formation; star formation takes place generally in molecular clouds which has high temp,pressure density etc needed for formation of a star. Hope this helps a bit.

How do astronomers take pictures of Faraway nebulae?

Astronomers use very powerful telescopes to take pictures of faraway nebulae. Space telescopes such as NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope and Hubble Space Telescope have captured many images of faraway nebulae.