Enter the nebula
A nebula is a distinct body of interstellar clouds which can consist of cosmic dust, hydrogen, helium, molecular clouds; possibly as ionized gases. Originally, the term was used to describe any diffused astronomical object, including galaxies beyond the Milky Way.
The Orion nebula is a diffuse nebula situated in the Milky Way.
The Lagoon nebula is a giant interstellar cloud in the constellation Sagittarius.
The Helix nebula is a planetary nebula located in the constellation Aquarius.
There are a variety of formation mechanisms for the different types of nebulae. Some nebulae form from gas that is already in the interstellar medium while others are produced by stars. Examples of the former case are giant molecular clouds, the coldest, densest phase of interstellar gas, which can form by the cooling and condensation of more diffuse gas. Examples of the latter case are planetary nebulae formed from material shed by a star in late stages of its stellar evolution.
Other nebulae form as the result of supernova explosions; the death throes of massive, short-lived stars. The materials thrown off from the supernova explosion are then ionized by the energy and the compact object that its core produces. One of the best examples of this is the Crab Nebula, in Taurus. The supernova event was recorded in the year 1054 and is labeled SN 1054. The compact object that was created after the explosion lies in the center of the Crab Nebula and its core is now a neutron star.