---
title: "Know Your Nebulae (Infographic)"
description: "Through the years, the Hubble Space Telescope has beamed back many breathtaking images of the cosmos. So many, astronomers eventually had to come up with some way of grouping individual objects with similar characteristics together (though naturally, some characteristics overlap). These days, there are six primary groups: planetary nebulae/supernova remnants, diffuse nebulae, reflection nebulae, emission nebulae, and dark nebulae. That might not sound like a..."
date: "2015-03-04"
modified: "2015-03-04"
authors:
  - name: "Jaime Trosper"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/jaimefqtq"
url: "https://futurism.com/know-nebulae-infographic"
categories:
  - "From Quarks to Quasars"
---

# Know Your Nebulae (Infographic)

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/First-Panel-e1425399469683.jpg>)

Through the years, the Hubble Space Telescope has beamed back many breathtaking images of the cosmos. So many, astronomers eventually had to come up with some way of grouping individual objects with similar characteristics together (though naturally, some characteristics overlap).

These days, there are six primary groups: planetary nebulae/supernova remnants, diffuse nebulae, reflection nebulae, emission nebulae, and [dark nebulae](<https://futurism.com/classifications-of-objects-in-space-part-4-dark-nebulae>). That might not sound like a lot, but it's sometimes hard enough to determine which category a nebula belongs to, let alone keeping all of the classifications straight.

In our newest infographic *(you can see a larger version [here](<http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Nebulae-Infographic.jpg>))*, we look at each individual type and a few subcategories (with examples).

[![Nebula Infographic](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Nebulae-Infographic.jpg>)](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Nebulae-Infographic.jpg>)
**Image: NASA**

# SEE ALSO:

- [Are Hubble Images True-to-Life Representations of Reality?](<https://futurism.com/false-coloring>)
- 100 Planetary Nebulae: How Many Can You Name?
- [Pareidolia: Clash of the Celestial Space Beasts](<https://futurism.com/pareidolia-clash-of-the-celestial-space-beasts>)
- [What Does Space Actually Look Like? ](<https://futurism.com/space-actually-look-like-video>)
- [Real Spooky Nebulae](<https://futurism.com/7-spooky-nebulae-just-in-time-for-halloween>)

*All images courtesy of Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona*

---

*Have an image you'd like to have featured by FQTQ? Contact us here.*

## Author
Jaime is a freelance writer, who finds great joy in sharing the wonders of universe with others. She used this passion to launch "From Quarks to Quasars" in 2012.