How do emission and reflection nebulae differ?
the presence of young stars
the presence of young stars
contain remnants of stars
contain remnants of stars
interactions with light
interactions with light
hard line edges
soft edges
Emission and reflection nebulae differ in several ways:
1. Presence of young stars: Emission nebulae are primarily associated with the formation of new stars. They contain ionized gases, such as hydrogen, which emit light as a result of the energetic radiation from nearby young stars. Reflection nebulae, on the other hand, do not emit their own light but instead reflect the light from nearby stars. They are often found in regions with young stars.
2. Contain remnants of stars: Emission nebulae typically do not contain remnants of stars, as they are associated with the birth of new stars rather than the death of old ones. In contrast, some reflection nebulae can contain remnants of stars, such as the dust and gas left behind after a star's death.
3. Interactions with light: Emission nebulae emit their own light due to the ionization of gases by nearby stars. This emission is usually in the form of specific wavelengths, such as the red light emitted by hydrogen. In comparison, reflection nebulae do not emit light but instead reflect the light from nearby stars, giving them a bluish appearance.
4. Hard line edges: Emission nebulae often have distinct, well-defined boundaries with sharp edges. This is because the ionization processes that produce the emission tend to occur at specific locations within the nebula, creating these sharp boundaries. Reflection nebulae, however, generally have more diffuse and less defined edges due to the scattering of light by the dust particles present in the nebula.
So, in summary, the main differences between emission and reflection nebulae are related to the presence of young stars, the presence of remnants of stars, interactions with light, and the sharpness of their edges.