What critical difference exists between the visibility requirement of a dark nebula and an emission nebula?

Answer

Dark nebulae require a bright source behind them, while emission nebulae require an immediate energy source to excite their gas

Emission nebulae glow because nearby hot stars excite their gas, whereas dark nebulae require a bright source positioned behind them to be seen as silhouettes via absorption.

What critical difference exists between the visibility requirement of a dark nebula and an emission nebula?

#Videos

What Makes Parts Of Emission Nebulae Appear Dark? - YouTube

Spaceastronomynebulaedark nebulae