Deep-sky object class · e.g. The nebulosity around the Pleiades
Reflection Nebula
A cloud of interstellar dust that shines not by its own emission but by scattering the light of nearby stars. Because fine dust scatters blue light most efficiently, reflection nebulae typically appear blue — as in the wisps of nebulosity draped around the Pleiades.
Highlights
- ›Dust glowing blue with reflected starlight
Examples & related concepts
Knowledge connections
- Associated withThe Pleiades
- Associated withInterstellar Dust
- Associated withEmission Nebula
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.