10 stunning images of nebulae shared by NASA

Reflection nebulae are illuminated by nearby stars whose light scatters through the surrounding gas and dust, causing it to glow, similar to a flashlight beam shining on mist in the dark.

Early astronomers using early telescopes observed numerous vague, cloudy shapes in the sky, which they termed "nebulae," Latin for clouds. Some of these fuzzy objects resembled planets and were dubbed "planetary nebulae."

Early astronomers using early telescopes observed numerous vague, cloudy shapes in the sky, which they termed "nebulae," Latin for clouds. Some of these fuzzy objects resembled planets and were dubbed "planetary nebulae."

Absorption nebulae, or dark nebulae, are clouds of gas and dust that don’t emit or reflect light but instead block light from behind them.

This image represents one of the most captivating examples of the turbulent stellar nurseries observed by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope over its 30-year lifetime.

This Hubble image of the Westerlund 2 cluster celebrates 25 years in orbit, highlighting a quarter-century of discovery and stunning visuals.

This new Hubble image, marking its 23rd year in orbit, reveals the Horsehead Nebula in the constellation of Orion. It resembles a giant seahorse rising from waves of dust and gas.

Green and Black Tea

This Hubble Space Telescope view captures a dynamic and intricate star-forming region in the Small Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way, located 210,000 light-years away.

This Hubble Space Telescope view captures a dynamic and intricate star-forming region in the Small Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way, located 210,000 light-years away.