Micro-lesson 1
Nebulae (clouds with jobs)
So far the campus was the backyard and one star’s life. Deep sky is the bigger furniture: clouds, crowds, the street we live on, and other streets.
A nebula is a cloud of gas and dust. Not one job:
- Nurseries — cold clumps collapse and stars turn on (you met this in Star lives).
- Leftover shells — a dying Sun-like star puffs its outer layers into a glowing ring.
- Blast clouds — a heavy star explodes and leaves a torn, fast cloud.
The pretty colors in photos are often real gases glowing, sometimes boosted so our eyes can share the view.