Astrophotography by Anthony Ayiomamitis

Reflection 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).


Reflection Nebula Images

M8 in Sgr

M16 in Ser

M17 in Ser

M20 in Sag

M27 in Vul

M42 in Ori

M43 in Ori

M45 in Tau

M57 in Lyr

M76 in Per

M78 in Ori

M97 in UMa
NGC 1435 in Tau
NGC 1432 in Tau
NGC 1977 in Ori
NGC 6914 in Cyg
NGC 7023 in Cep
NGC 7129 in Cep
vdB 152 in Cep