Why do Reflection Nebulae typically appear blue?
Answer
The fine dust particles scatter shorter wavelengths (blue light) more efficiently than longer ones.
Reflection nebulae scatter the visible light of nearby stars. This scattering process is governed by principles similar to why the sky appears blue, meaning shorter wavelengths like blue light are scattered more effectively than longer wavelengths.
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Nebulae: Crash Course Astronomy #36 - YouTube
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