“Emission nebula, in astronomy, a bright, diffuse light sometimes associated with stars whose temperatures exceed 20,000 K. The excitation process necessary to provide observed optical and radio energies in such gaseous regions was long an astronomical puzzle. It was found that ultraviolet light from the star ionizes nearby hydrogen. The hydrogen atoms emit visible light after the electrons and nuclei recombine and the atoms drop to lower energy levels.”
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “emission nebula”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Dec. 2011.
The images below are ones that I’ve taken of emission nebula over the past couple of years.
Click on any of the images below to go to the gallery for a better view and details related to each image.
The Wizard Nebula, NGC 7380 in Cepheus
The Pacman Nebula, NGC 281 in Cassiopeia.
The Cave Nebula in Cepheus.
The Rosette Nebula NGC2244 in Monoceros.
The Heart Nebula (IC 1805) located in Cassiopeia. The Fish Head Nebula (IC 1795) is also in the field of view at lower right.
The Elephant's Trunk Nebula in Cepheus.
M8, The Lagoon nebula in Sagittarius. Shot during full moon with Optolong L-eXtreme filter.
The Cone Nebula (NGC 2264) in Monoceros (The Unicorn).
The Flaming Star Nebula (IC 405) in Auriga.
The Horsehead and Flame Nebulas in Orion.
The Monkey Head Nebula in Orion.
The Rosette Nebula (NGC 2244)