Astrophotography by Anthony Ayiomamitis

Emission Nebulae Image Gallery

Nebulae represent clouds of gas and dust which appear as hazy or fuzzy objects when viewed through a telescope and are characterized as one of four types (emission, planetary, reflection or dark). Emission nebulae, such as the Lagoon nebula (M8), simply glow, for example, with a stunning shade of red. Planetary nebulae appear as small greenish disks through a telescope, thus emulating the planets Uranus and Neptune, as a result of gas masses being thrown off by dying stars (ex. M27, Dumbbell nebula) or represent supernova remnants (ex. M1, Crab nebula). In contrast, reflection nebulae are characterized with gas surrounding young stars which reflect the stellar light (ex. M45, Pleiades) and, thus, yield beautiful images of nebulosity. Finally, dark nebulae are detectable and studied only using parts other than the visible spectrum and are believed to be associated with the formation of stars (ex. M16 in Serpens).


Emission Nebula Images
Messier Catalog

M8 in Sgr

M16 in Ser

M17 in Sgr

M20 in Sag

M27 in Vul

M42 in Ori

M43 in Ori

M57 in Lyr

M76 in Per

M78 in Ori

M97 in UMa
NGC Catalog

NGC 281 in Cas

NGC 7000 in Cyg

NGC 7380 in Cep

NGC 6992 in Cyg

NGC 896 in Cas

NGC 1977 in Ori

Flame Nebula

NGC 6781 in Aql

NGC 6820 in Vul

NGC 6888 in Cyg

NGC 6960 in Cyg

NGC 7635 in Cas

NGC 7822 in Cep
IC Catalog

IC 5067 in Cyg

IC 5070 in Cyg

IC 1396A in Cep

IC 1795 in Cas

IC 5146 in Cyg
Sharpless Catalog

Sh2-103 in Cyg
Eastern Veil Nebula

Sh2-117 in Cyg
Pelican Nebula

Sh2-117 in Cyg
Pelican Nebula

Sh2-142 in Cep
Wizard Nebula

Sh2-157 in Cas


Sh2-184 in Cas
Pacman Nebula

Sh2-25 in Sgr
Lagoon Nebula

Sh2-30 in Sgr
Trifid Nebula

Sh2-45 in Sgr
Swan Nebula

Sh2-49 in Ser
Eagle Nebula

Sh2-84 in Sge


Sh2-86 in Vul

Sh2-96 in Cyg

Sh2-101 in Cyg
Tulip Nebula

Sh2-105 in Cyg
Crescent Nebula

Sh2-112 in Cyg
Clown Face Nebula

Sh2-116 in Cyg


Sh2-119 in Cyg
Western Veil Nebula

Sh2-125 in Cyg
Cocoon Nebula

Sh2-131 in Cep
Elephant Trunk Nebula

Sh2-132 in Cep


Sh2-155 in Cep
Cave Nebula

Sh2-162 in Cas
Bubble Nebula

Sh2-171 in Cep


Sh2-173 in Cas
Phantom of the Opera

Sh2-176 in Cas


Sh2-185 in Cas


Sh2-244 in Tau
Crab Nebula

Sh2-274 in Gem
Medusa Nebula

Sh2-279 in Ori
Running Man Nebula
Herbig-Haro Catalog

HH42 in Ori

HH43 in Ori

HH 45 in Ori

HH57 in Lyr

HH76 in Per

HH78 in Ori

HH97 in UMa
Other Catalogs

Sim 3-188 in Cep

CTB 1 in Cas