Space is a marvellous place, and thanks to cameras like the Hubble Space Telescope, the Herscel Telescope and Spitzer Telescope we are able to see unparallelled images of wondrous cloud nebulas such as the Orion, Crab and Horsehead nebula. Here are a few of the best:

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1

The Crab Nebula - The Pillars of Creation

© NASA/ESA/Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)/J. Hester, P. Scowen (Arizona State U.)
© NASA/ESA/Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)/J. Hester, P. Scowen (Arizona State U.)

Awesome!

2

The Twin Jet Nebula

© ESA/Hubble & NASA, Acknowledgement: Judy Schmidt
© ESA/Hubble & NASA, Acknowledgement: Judy Schmidt

Dazzling!

3

The Veil Nebula

© NASA/ESA/Hubble Heritage Team
© NASA/ESA/Hubble Heritage Team

Ghostly!

4

The Lagoon Nebula

© NASA, ESA, J. Trauger (Jet Propulson Laboratory)
© NASA, ESA, J. Trauger (Jet Propulson Laboratory)

Epic!

5

The Crab Nebula

NASA/CXC/SAO© NASA/CXC/SAO
NASA/CXC/SAO© NASA/CXC/SAO

Swirly!

6

PSR B1509-58

© X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Infrared: NASA/JPL-Caltech
© X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Infrared: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Pareidolia?

7

The Monkey Head Nebula

© NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)
© NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

Beautiful!

8

The Orion Nebula

© NASA/JPL-Caltech
© NASA/JPL-Caltech

Spectacular!

9

The Horsehead Nebula

© NASA/ESA/Hubble Heritage Team
© NASA/ESA/Hubble Heritage Team

Majestic!

10

The Butterfly Nebula (NGC 6302)

© NASA/ESA/Hubble
© NASA/ESA/Hubble

Delightful!

11

The Orion Nebula

© NASA
© NASA

(Still) spectacular!

12

The Eagle Nebula

© ESA/Herschel/PACS/SPIRE/Hill, Motte, HOBYS Key Programme Consortium
© ESA/Herschel/PACS/SPIRE/Hill, Motte, HOBYS Key Programme Consortium

Ethereal!

13

Sharpless 2-106

© NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)
© NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

Angelic.

14

30 Doradus

© NASA
© NASA

Fiery!

15

RAS 05437+2502

© NASA, ESA, Hubble, R. Sahai (JPL)
© NASA, ESA, Hubble, R. Sahai (JPL)

Ominous!

16

The Carina Nebula

© NASA, ESA, and M. Livio and the Hubble 20th Anniversary Team (STScI)
© NASA, ESA, and M. Livio and the Hubble 20th Anniversary Team (STScI)

Cosmic!

17

Pismis 24

© NASA, ESA and J. M. Apellániz (IAA, Spain)
© NASA, ESA and J. M. Apellániz (IAA, Spain)

Romantic.

18

The Carina Nebula

© NASA, ESA, N. Smith (University of California, Berkeley), and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)
© NASA, ESA, N. Smith (University of California, Berkeley), and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

Cosmic, again.

19

The Omega Nebula

© NASA, ESA, J. Hester (ASU)
© NASA, ESA, J. Hester (ASU)

"Ahhhhh!'

20

NGC 1999

© NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI)
© NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI)

Breathtaking...

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Authors

Alexander McNamaraOnline Editor, BBC Science Focus

Alexander is the former Online Editor at BBC Science Focus.

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