What appearance results if the dust cloud in a nebula is too thick relative to the illuminating star?
Answer
A dark nebula instead of a bright blue one
The visibility and color of a reflection nebula depend on a delicate balance concerning the density of the interstellar dust particles relative to the intensity of the illuminating star. If the dust cloud becomes excessively thick, it will absorb or completely block the light emanating from the nearby star. When this happens, insufficient light reaches the observer or camera to create a luminous spectacle, resulting in the object appearing as a dark nebula, which is characterized by obscuration rather than illumination by reflected blue light.
#Videos
How to find the Blue Snowball Nebula (also known as NGC 7662 ...
Related Questions
What physical mechanism causes reflection nebulae to appear blue when illuminated by nearby stars?Which light wavelengths are interstellar dust grains in reflection nebulae most efficient at scattering toward an observer?What is the nickname associated with the reflection nebula IC 4592 located in Scorpius?What appearance results if the dust cloud in a nebula is too thick relative to the illuminating star?To which specific nebula classification does the celestial object M78 belong?In the planetary nebula NGC 7293 (Helix Nebula), what specific atomic emission is often responsible for observed blue-green tones?What difference often exists between the appearance of M78 through an amateur eyepiece versus a long-exposure astrophotograph?What is the essential role of narrowband filters in imaging nebulae that appear blue in processed photographs?In reflection nebulae, what crucial factor, besides the presence of a bright star, determines the visibility of the blue scattered light?What common characteristic defines both M78 and IC 4592 in terms of light generation?What is the official designation for the planetary nebula often referred to as the Eight-Burst Nebula or Southern Ring Nebula?