A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z.
0-9
30 Doradus Nebula
diffuse nebula; NGC 2070, Tarantula Nebula
A
Antares
a star, within a nebula near Rho Ophiuchus
B
Barnard 33
dark nebula; Horsehead Nebula
The Blue Snowball
planetary nebula; NGC 7662
C
Cat’s Eye Nebula
planetary nebula; NGC 6543
celestial equator
the projection onto the sky of the Earth’s equator
Checkmark Nebula
diffuse nebula; NGC 6618, M 17
Clownface Nebula
planetary nebula; NGC 2392, Eskimo Nebula
Crab Nebula
supernova remnant; NGC 1952, M 1; a supernova remnant
Cygnus Loop
supernova remnant; Veil Nebula
D
dark nebula
a dust cloud blocking the light from behind
Dec
abbreviation of Declination, which along with Right Ascension determines a position on the sky. Declination is measured north (+) and south (-) from the celestial equator and specified in degrees and minutes.
diffuse nebula
an emission or reflection nebula
Dumbbell Nebula
planetary nebula; NGC 6853, M 27
dust
micron-size solid particles of somewhat uncertain composition, probably carbon, iron or silicates.
For more info about dust and its role in nebulae see Dust Evolution in the Universe by Amara Graps.
E
Eagle Nebula
diffuse nebula; NGC 6611, M 16
Eskimo Nebula
planetary nebula; NGC 2392
emission nebula
a gas cloud radiating by stimulated emission
Eta Carinae
a massive star within NGC 3372
extended
having detectably non-zero angular size, not star-like
F
G
galactic cluster
a loose cluster of a small number of stars; aka open cluster
galaxy
an “island universe” of billions of stars
globular cluster
a dense cluster of stars
The Ghost of Jupiter
planetary nebula; NGC 3242
H
Helix Nebula
planetary nebula; NGC 7293
Homunculus Nebula
gas expelled from Eta Carinae; part of NGC 3372
Horsehead Nebula
dark nebula; Barnard 33. Nearby are IC 434, NGC 2023 and NGC 2024.
Horseshoe Nebula
diffuse nebula; NGC 6618, M 17
Hourglass Nebula
dark nebula; NGC 6523, M 8, part of Lagoon Nebula
I
IC 434
diffuse nebula; associated with the Horsehead Nebula
J
K
Keyhole Nebula
dark nebula; NGC 3324; part of NGC 3372
L
Lagoon Nebula
diffuse nebula; NGC 6523, M 8, contains Hourglass Nebula
Little Dumbbell Nebula
planetary nebula; NGC 650-1, M 76
ly
abbreviation for light-year (about 6,000,000,000,000 miles)
M
Messier
Charles Messier was a French comet hunter. His catalog (first published in 1781) of nebulous objects was originally intended as a list of “junk” to avoid when searching for comets. (more info)
M 1
supernova remnant; NGC 1952, Crab Nebula
M 8
diffuse nebula; NGC 6523, Lagoon Nebula
M 16
diffuse nebula; NGC 6611, Eagle Nebula
M 17
diffuse nebula; NGC 6618, Omega Nebula
M 20
diffuse nebula; NGC 6514, Trifid Nebula
M 27
planetary nebula; NGC 6853, Dumbbell Nebula
M 42
diffuse nebula; NGC 1976, the main part of Orion Nebula
M 43
diffuse nebula; NGC 1982, a smaller part of Orion Nebula
M 45
diffuse nebula Pleiades, Subaru, Seven Sisters
M 57
planetary nebula; NGC 6720, Ring Nebula
M 76
planetary nebula; NGC 650-1, Little Dumbbell Nebula
N
Nebula
any of various types of extended objects in the sky; also see individual names
Nebulae
the plural form of “nebula”; “nebulas” is also correct, but not as cool.
NGC
New General Catalogue, compiled by J. L. E. Dreyer in 1888; later amended by the two Index Catalogues (IC)
NGC 0650-1
planetary nebula; M 76, Little Dumbbell Nebula
NGC 1952
supernova remnant; M 1, Crab Nebula
NGC 1976
diffuse nebula; M 42, the main part of the Orion Nebula
NGC 1982
diffuse nebula; M 43, a smaller part of Orion Nebula
NGC 2070
diffuse nebula; Tarantula Nebula, 30 Doradus Nebula
NGC 2237
diffuse nebula; NGC 2244, Rosette Nebula
NGC 2244
an open cluster near NGC 2237, Rosette Nebula
NGC 2392
planetary nebula; Eskimo Nebula
NGC 2440
planetary nebula
NGC 3242
planetary nebula; The Ghost of Jupiter
NGC 3324
dark nebula; Keyhole Nebula; part of NGC 3372
NGC 3372
diffuse nebula; Eta Carina Nebula, Keyhole Nebula, Homunculus Nebula
NGC 6514
diffuse nebula; M 20, Trifid Nebula
NGC 6523
diffuse nebula; M 8, Lagoon Nebula, contains Hourglass Nebula
NGC 6543
planetary nebula; Cat’s Eye Nebula
NGC 6611
diffuse nebula; M 16, Eagle Nebula
NGC 6618
diffuse nebula; M 17, Omega Nebula
NGC 6720
planetary nebula; M 57, Ring Nebula
NGC 6853
planetary nebula; M 27, Dumbbell Nebula
NGC 6960
part of Veil Nebula, supernova remnant;
NGC 7009
planetary nebula; Saturn Nebula
NGC 7023
diffuse nebula
NGC 7293
planetary nebula; Helix Nebula
NGC 7662
planetary nebula; The Blue Snowball
O
old
an old star is very old indeed, about 10 billion years (or more)
Omega Nebula
diffuse nebula; NGC 6618, M 17
open cluster
a loose cluster of a small number of stars; aka galactic cluster
Orion Nebula
diffuse nebula; M 42 (NGC 1976) and M 43 (NGC 1982)
P
planetary nebula
a bright nebula thrown off by a dying star
Pleiades
diffuse nebula; M 45, Subaru, Seven Sisters
Puppis A
a supernova remnant
Q
R
RA
abbreviation of Right Ascension which along with Declination defines a position in the sky. RA is measured eastward along the celestial equator with the zero point at the vernal equinox; it is specified in hours, minutes and seconds (seconds omitted here)
reflection nebula
a dust cloud reflecting starlight
Rho Ophiuchus
a star, within a nebula near Antares
Ring Nebula
planetary nebula; NGC 6720, M 57
Rosette Nebula
diffuse nebula; NGC 2237, NGC 2244
S
Saturn Nebula
planetary nebula; NGC 7009
Seven Sisters
diffuse nebula; M 45, Pleiades, Subaru, Seven Sisters
supernova remnant
leftover gas from a supernova explosion
stellar classification
Stars given a designation consisting of a letter and a number according to the nature of their spectral lines which corresponds roughly to surface temperature. The classes are: O, B, A, F, G, K, and M; O stars are the hottest; M the coolest. The numbers are simply subdivisions of the major classes. The classes are oddly sequenced because they were assigned long ago before we understood their relationship to temperature. O and B stars are rare but very bright; M stars are numerous but dim. The Sun is designated G2.
Subaru
diffuse nebula; M 45, Pleiades, Seven Sisters
Supernova 1987A
a very new supernova remnant
Swan Nebula
diffuse nebula; NGC 6618, M 17
T
Tarantula Nebula
diffuse nebula; NGC 2070, 30 Doradus Nebula
Trapezium
a four-star system at the heard of the Orion Nebula
Trifid Nebula
diffuse nebula; NGC 6514, M 20
U
V
Veil Nebula
a supernova remnant; contains NGC 6960, 6979, 6992 6995; Cygnus Loop
Vela SNR
a supernova remnant
W
X
Y
young
“young” for a star must be interpreted in the context of the average stellar lifetime of billions of years. A young star is one that is no more than a few million years old.
Z
Bill Arnett