What physical process primarily causes reflection nebulae to appear blue?
Answer
Scattering of starlight by microscopic matter
The blue hue in reflection nebulae is the result of light scattering. This process redirects light from a nearby star toward the observer, similar to why Earth's sky appears blue.
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What Makes Reflection Nebulae Appear Blue? - Physics Frontier
Why Are Reflection Nebulae Blue? - Physics Frontier - YouTube
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