What type of nebula is characterized by being lit up by nearby energetic, hot stars?
Answer
An emission nebula
Nebulae can exhibit different visible appearances based on their interaction with surrounding stellar radiation. An emission nebula is specifically defined by the presence of nearby hot stars whose energetic radiation causes the gas within the cloud to glow brightly, thus lighting up the structure. This contrasts with an absorption nebula, which appears dark because it blocks background light, or a reflection nebula, which appears illuminated by scattering starlight rather than emitting its own visible light due to excitation.
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