What are the two primary ingredients constituting a vast nebula?
Answer
Gas and microscopic solid particles (dust)
A nebula is fundamentally defined as a vast interstellar cloud composed of two primary constituents. The first is gas, which constitutes the overwhelming majority of the mass, consisting mainly of hydrogen and helium. Interspersed within this gas are the second components: microscopic solid particles collectively known as cosmic dust. These dust grains range in size from a few molecules up to about a micrometer and are responsible for interactions with light, such as scattering or blocking it. Although the gas dominates the mass, the dust is crucial for determining the nebula's appearance and its role in forming solids later on.
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