Q:
What is a stellar nebula?
A:
Quick Answer
A stellar nebula is a cloud of superheated gases and other elements formed by the explosive death of a massive star. Stellar nebulae emit brilliant waves of infrared light generated by dust particles within the cloud.
Continue Reading
Credit:
hubblesite
CC-BY 3.0
Full Answer
The cosmic objects known as nebulae, from the Latin for cloud, serve as the birthplace of stars. Stellar formation begins in a nebula when particles within the cloud begin to bond with each other due to their gravitational pull, the increased mass of these particles in turn gaining more gravitational pull. As they attract more of the surrounding dust and gas, the pressures at the core of the construct reach such an extreme that nuclear fusion results, sparking the earliest stages of star development.
Learn more about Stellar AstronomySources:
Related Questions
-
Q:
What is a nebula?
A: Usually several light years across, a nebula is an extremely large cluster of clouds and dust often found between stars. Nebulae are made of many elements ... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What is a protostellar disk?
A: A protostellar disk is created as the gas and dust of a stellar nursery collapse gravitationally in a process that eventually creates stars and solar syste... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What is the most common unit used to express stellar distance?
A: According to HowStuffWorks, the most common unit for describing stellar distance is the light year. Contrary to what the name may imply, the light year is ... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
Why are stars so bright?
A: Stars appear bright based on their distance from Earth and their stellar classification. The measurement used to indicate the brightness of a star as seen ... Full Answer >Filed Under:
