What is a Nebula?

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About Nebula:

A nebula is a giant cloud of dust and gas in space.
Some nebulae (more than one nebula) come from the gas and dust thrown out by the explosion of a dying star, such as a supernova.
Other nebulae are regions where new stars are beginning to form. For this reason, some nebulae are called “star nurseries.”
How do stars form in a nebula?
- Nebulae are made of dust and gases—mostly hydrogen and helium.
- The dust and gases in a nebula are very spread out, but gravity can slowly begin to pull together clumps of dust and gas.
- As these clumps get bigger and bigger, their gravity gets stronger and stronger.
- Eventually, the clump of dust and gas gets so big that it collapses from its own gravity.
- The collapse causes the material at the center of the cloud to heat up-and this hot core is the beginning of a star.
Nebulae existin the space between the stars—also known as interstellar space.
The closest known nebula to Earth is called the Helix Nebula. It is approximately 700 light-years away from Earth.
Nebulas come in many shapes and sizes and can be further divided into several subcategories, including planetary nebulas, supernova remnants, dark nebulas, and emission nebulas.

Red Spider Nebula:

It is a planetary nebula located 3,000 light-years from Earth and can be found in the constellation of Sagittarius.
It harbours one of the hottest stars known, which heats the gas around it to form shockwaves 62 billion miles (100 billion km) high.

Q1: What is a Supernova?

A supernova is the name given to the cataclysmic explosion of a massive star. They are the largest explosion that takes place in space. It can emit more energy in a few seconds than our sun will radiate in its lifetime of billions of years. They’re also the primary source of heavy elements in the universe. On average, a supernova will occur once every 50 years in a galaxy the size of the Milky Way.

Source: Cosmic Spider: Nasa’s Hubble Captures Stunning Image Of The Red Spider Nebula’s Celestial Beauty