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They aren't. They often look that way because of the way various photographic emulsions and CCD arrays are sensitive to certain wavelengths of light.

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βˆ™ 12y ago
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βˆ™ 5mo ago

Reflection nebulae appear blue because they scatter and reflect light off dust particles, preferentially scattering shorter blue wavelengths. Emission nebulae appear red due to the presence of ionized hydrogen gas which emits red light when electrons recombine with protons.

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Q: Why are reflection nebulae blue and emission nebulae red?
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Continue Learning about Astronomy

What are the two main types of bright nebulae?

The two main types of bright nebulae are emission nebulae, which emit light from ionized gases, and reflection nebulae, which reflect light from nearby stars. Emission nebulae are usually red or pink in color, while reflection nebulae appear blue due to scattering of light.


What is the difference between reflection nebulae and emission nebulae?

Reflection nebulae reflect light from nearby stars, appearing blue due to scattering of light by interstellar dust. Emission nebulae emit light themselves, typically due to ionized gases within the nebula that are excited by nearby hot stars.


Why do emission nebulae appear red when they surround blue stars?

Emission nebulae appear red when they surround blue stars because the blue stars emit high-energy ultraviolet radiation which ionizes the hydrogen gas in the nebula, causing it to emit red light through a process called hydrogen-alpha emission. This red light is more prominent than the blue light emitted by the stars, giving the nebula its red color.


What is the difference between a dark reflecting nebula and light relfecting nebula?

Dark reflecting nebulae appear dark because they are dense clouds of gas and dust blocking the light from stars behind them. Light reflecting nebulae, on the other hand, appear bright because they reflect the light of nearby stars, often due to the presence of reflective dust particles.


In the milky way the most abundant gas in emission nebulae is?

The most abundant gas in emission nebulae in the Milky Way is hydrogen. Emission nebulae are commonly made up of ionized hydrogen gas that emits light as it recombines with electrons. This creates the vibrant pink and red colors often seen in these nebulae.

Related questions

What are the two main types of bright nebulae?

The two main types of bright nebulae are emission nebulae, which emit light from ionized gases, and reflection nebulae, which reflect light from nearby stars. Emission nebulae are usually red or pink in color, while reflection nebulae appear blue due to scattering of light.


What is the difference between reflection nebulae and emission nebulae?

Reflection nebulae reflect light from nearby stars, appearing blue due to scattering of light by interstellar dust. Emission nebulae emit light themselves, typically due to ionized gases within the nebula that are excited by nearby hot stars.


Why do emission nebulae appear red when they surround blue stars?

Emission nebulae appear red when they surround blue stars because the blue stars emit high-energy ultraviolet radiation which ionizes the hydrogen gas in the nebula, causing it to emit red light through a process called hydrogen-alpha emission. This red light is more prominent than the blue light emitted by the stars, giving the nebula its red color.


What is the difference between a dark reflecting nebula and light relfecting nebula?

Dark reflecting nebulae appear dark because they are dense clouds of gas and dust blocking the light from stars behind them. Light reflecting nebulae, on the other hand, appear bright because they reflect the light of nearby stars, often due to the presence of reflective dust particles.


In the milky way the most abundant gas in emission nebulae is?

The most abundant gas in emission nebulae in the Milky Way is hydrogen. Emission nebulae are commonly made up of ionized hydrogen gas that emits light as it recombines with electrons. This creates the vibrant pink and red colors often seen in these nebulae.


What is the primary visible color of an emission nebula?

Emission nebulae can emit photons of many wavelengths, but the predominant color is red. They can also emit blue and pink colors (which are also part of the Balmer series of the hydrogen atom).


What are the different types of nebula and how do they differ from each other?

There are mainly four types of nebulae: emission nebulae, reflection nebulae, dark nebulae, and planetary nebulae. Emission nebulae glow due to the energy emitted by nearby stars, reflection nebulae reflect light from nearby stars, dark nebulae are dense clouds that block light, and planetary nebulae are the remnants of dying stars. Each type of nebula differs in its composition, appearance, and the processes that create them.


What are the different kinds of nebula found in outer space?

There are several types of nebulae found in outer space, including emission nebulae, reflection nebulae, dark nebulae, and planetary nebulae. Emission nebulae are clouds of ionized gas that emit light, reflection nebulae reflect light from nearby stars, dark nebulae are dense clouds that block light, and planetary nebulae are the remnants of dying stars.


What colors of visible light are found in the emission spectrum of hydrogen?

The emission spectrum of hydrogen primarily includes red, blue, and violet wavelengths of light. These correspond to specific transitions between energy levels in the hydrogen atom.


What is the common element with bright red blue green and violet emission lines?

The common element with bright red, blue, green, and violet emission lines is hydrogen. These emission lines correspond to different electron transitions within the hydrogen atom, resulting in different colors of light being emitted.


What colour would a red look through blue filter?

Black because if a red light reflects off the blue surface there is no reflection, so the surface looks black.


What is blue and smells like red paint?

Well you see color is just the rays from the sun reflecting a certain color and if its blue then its reflecting blue. but heres the tricky part since its just a reflection blue paint and red paint smell the same so the answer is blue paint.