How do emission nebulae generate their luminosity, unlike dust clouds that merely reflect light?
Answer
By actively generating their own light through atomic excitation.
Emission nebulae are actively generating their own light through a process that requires immense energy from nearby stars to ionize the gas, which subsequently releases photons upon recombination.
#Videos
Why Are Emission Nebulae Different Colors? - Physics Frontier
What Makes Emission Nebulae Glow In Distinct Colors? - YouTube
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