150 Notable Nebulae

An A-to-Z list of 100 notable nebulae of the night sky. Nebulae are interstellar gas and dust clouds that emit (emission nebulae), reflect (reflection nebulae), or absorb (dark nebulae) light of different wavelengths. Many large nebulae can have emission, reflection, and dark components, such as the large Orion nebula. Supernova remnants (SNR) are a type of emission nebula. See sidebar for more information.

Dim, diffuse objects like nebulae require lots of telescope aperture and are ideal for viewing with a dobsonian telescope.


NEBULA TYPE MAGNITUDE CONSTELLATION
Abell 70
Abell 70
planetary Aquila
Ant Nebula
Ant Nebula
planetary 13.8 Norma
Barnard 30
Barnard 30
dark Orion
Barnard's Bubble Nebula
Barnard's Bubble Nebula
diffuse 15 Sagittarius
Barnard's Loop
Barnard's Loop
emission 5 Orion
Barnard's Merope Nebula
Barnard's Merope Nebula
reflection 13 Taurus
Bat Nebula
Bat Nebula
supernova remnant Cygnus
Bean Nebula
Bean Nebula
emission Dorado
Blinking Planetary
Blinking Planetary
planetary 8.8 Cygnus
Blue Flash Nebula
Blue Flash Nebula
planetary 11 Delphinus
Blue Planetary
Blue Planetary
planetary 8.5 Centaurus
Blue Racquetball Nebula
Blue Racquetball Nebula
planetary 9 Ophiuchus
Blue Snowball Nebula
Blue Snowball Nebula
planetary 8.6 Andromeda
Boomerang Nebula
Boomerang Nebula
protoplanetary Centaurus
Bow-Tie Nebula
Bow-Tie Nebula
planetary 11.4 Cepheus
Box Nebula
Box Nebula
planetary 11.5 Ophiuchus
Bubble Nebula
Bubble Nebula
diffuse 10 Cassiopeia
Bug Nebula
Bug Nebula
planetary 7.1 Scorpius
Butterfly Nebula
Butterfly Nebula
planetary 12 Monoceros
Calabash Nebula
Calabash Nebula
protoplanetary 9.5 Puppis
California Nebula
California Nebula
emission 6 Perseus
Carina Nebula
Carina Nebula
diffuse 1 Carina
Cassiopeia A
Cassiopeia A
supernova remnant Cassiopeia
Cat's Eye Nebula
Cat's Eye Nebula
planetary 9.8 Draco
Cat's Paw Nebula
Cat's Paw Nebula
diffuse Scorpius
Cave Nebula
Cave Nebula
diffuse 7.7 Cepheus
Cleopatra's Eye
Cleopatra's Eye
planetary 10.5 Eridanus
Coalsack Nebula
Coalsack Nebula
dark Crux
Cocoon Nebula
Cocoon Nebula
reflection 7.2 Cygnus
Cone Nebula
Cone Nebula
dark Monoceros
Corona Australis Nebula
Corona Australis Nebula
diffuse 9.5 Corona Australis
Cotton Candy Nebula
Cotton Candy Nebula
protoplanetary Ara
Crab Nebula
Crab Nebula
supernova remnant 8.4 Taurus
Crescent Nebula
Crescent Nebula
emission 7.4 Cygnus
Cygnus Loop
Cygnus Loop
supernova remnant Cygnus
Dark Doodad Nebula
Dark Doodad Nebula
dark Musca
Dark Horse Nebula
Dark Horse Nebula
dark Ophiuchus
De Mairans Nebula
De Mairans Nebula
emission 9 Orion
Dolphin Nebula
Dolphin Nebula
planetary Canis Major
Double Helix Nebula
Double Helix Nebula
diffuse Ophiuchus
Dragon's Head Nebula
Dragon's Head Nebula
emission Dorado
Dragonfish Nebula
Dragonfish Nebula
emission Crux
Dumbbell Nebula
Dumbbell Nebula
planetary 7.5 Vulpecula
Eagle Nebula
Eagle Nebula
emission 6 Serpens
Eastern Veil Nebula
Eastern Veil Nebula
supernova remnant 7 Cygnus
Egg Nebula
Egg Nebula
protoplanetary 14 Cygnus
Eight-burst Nebula
Eight-burst Nebula
planetary 9.9 Vela
Elephant's Trunk Nebula
Elephant's Trunk Nebula
diffuse Cepheus
Engraved Hourglass Nebula
Engraved Hourglass Nebula
planetary 13 Musca
Eskimo Nebula
Eskimo Nebula
planetary 10.1 Gemini
Eye of Sauron Nebula
Eye of Sauron Nebula
planetary Sagittarius
Fetus Nebula
Fetus Nebula
planetary 12 Cygnus
Fine Ring Nebula
Fine Ring Nebula
planetary 12.6 Norma
Fish Head Nebula
Fish Head Nebula
emission Cassiopeia
Flame Nebula
Flame Nebula
emission 10 Orion
Flaming Star Nebula
Flaming Star Nebula
reflection 6 Auriga
Flaming Tree Nebula
Flaming Tree Nebula
dark Orion
Fleming 1
Fleming 1
planetary 7.6 Centaurus
Fly Nebula
Fly Nebula
reflection 10.1 Auriga
Footprint Nebula
Footprint Nebula
protoplanetary 11.7 Cygnus
Fried Egg Nebula
Fried Egg Nebula
protoplanetary 12.4 Scorpius
Frosty Leo Nebula
Frosty Leo Nebula
protoplanetary 11 Leo
Gabriela Mistral Nebula
Gabriela Mistral Nebula
emission Carina
Ghost Head Nebula
Ghost Head Nebula
emission Dorado
Ghost of Jupiter
Ghost of Jupiter
planetary 8.6 Hydra
Glowing Eye Nebula
Glowing Eye Nebula
planetary 11.9 Aquila
Gum Nebula
Gum Nebula
emission Vela-Puppis
Headphone Nebula
Headphone Nebula
planetary 14 Lynx
Heart Nebula
Heart Nebula
diffuse 18.3 Cassiopeia
Helix Nebula
Helix Nebula
planetary 7.6 Aquarius
Homunculus Nebula
Homunculus Nebula
reflection 6.2 Carina
Horsehead Nebula
Horsehead Nebula
dark Orion
Hubble's Variable Nebula
Hubble's Variable Nebula
reflection 9 Monoceros
Inkspot Nebula
Inkspot Nebula
dark Sagittarius
Iris Nebula
Iris Nebula
reflection 6.8 Cepheus
Jellyfish Nebula
Jellyfish Nebula
supernova remnant Gemini
Kepler's Supernova
Kepler's Supernova
supernova remnant Ophiuchus
Kesteven 79
Kesteven 79
supernova remnant Aquila
Keyhole Nebula
Keyhole Nebula
dark Carina
Kleinmann-Low Nebula
Kleinmann-Low Nebula
diffuse Orion
Lagoon Nebula
Lagoon Nebula
emission 6 Sagittarius
Lemon Slice Nebula
Lemon Slice Nebula
planetary 12.3 Camelopardalis
Little Dumbbell Nebula
Little Dumbbell Nebula
planetary 10.1 Perseus
Little Gem Nebula
Little Gem Nebula
planetary 9.3 Sagittarius
Little Ghost Nebula
Little Ghost Nebula
planetary 9.9 Ophiuchus
Lower's Nebula
Lower's Nebula
emission Orion
Manatee Nebula
Manatee Nebula
supernova remnant Aquila
McNeil's Nebula
McNeil's Nebula
reflection 15.5 Orion
Medusa Nebula
Medusa Nebula
planetary 16 Gemini
Merope Nebula
Merope Nebula
reflection 13 Taurus
Messier 78
Messier 78
reflection 8.3 Orion
Monkey Head Nebula
Monkey Head Nebula
emission 6.8 Orion
North America Nebula
North America Nebula
emission 4 Cygnus
Northern Trifid Nebula
Northern Trifid Nebula
emission Perseus
Omega Nebula
Omega Nebula
emission 6 Sagittarius
Orion Complex
Orion Complex
emission Orion
Orion Nebula
Orion Nebula
diffuse 4 Orion
Owl Nebula
Owl Nebula
planetary 10 Ursa Major
Oyster Nebula
Oyster Nebula
planetary 13 Camelopardalis
Pacman Nebula
Pacman Nebula
emission Cassiopeia
Pelican Nebula
Pelican Nebula
emission 8 Cygnus
Pencil Nebula
Pencil Nebula
emission 12 Vela
Phantom Streak Nebula
Phantom Streak Nebula
planetary 11 Aquila
Pipe Nebula
Pipe Nebula
dark Ophiuchus
Pistol Nebula
Pistol Nebula
emission Sagittarius
Puppis A
Puppis A
supernova remnant Puppis
R Coronae Australis Nebula
R Coronae Australis Nebula
reflection Corona Australis
Red Rectangle Nebula
Red Rectangle Nebula
protoplanetary 9 Monoceros
Red Spider Nebula
Red Spider Nebula
planetary 12 Sagittarius
Retina Nebula
Retina Nebula
planetary Lupus
Ring Nebula
Ring Nebula
planetary 9 Lyra
Robin's Egg Nebula
Robin's Egg Nebula
planetary 9.4 Fornax
Rosette Nebula
Rosette Nebula
diffuse 9 Monoceros
Running Chicken Nebula
Running Chicken Nebula
diffuse 4.5 Centaurus
Running Man Nebula
Running Man Nebula
reflection 7 Orion
Sadr Region
Sadr Region
emission 2.2 Cygnus
Saturn Nebula
Saturn Nebula
planetary 8 Aquarius
Seagull Nebula
Seagull Nebula
emission 15.2 Monoceros
Shark Nebula
Shark Nebula
emission Cepheus
Skull Nebula
Skull Nebula
planetary 8 Cetus
Snake Nebula
Snake Nebula
dark Ophiuchus
Soap Bubble Nebula
Soap Bubble Nebula
planetary Cygnus
Soccer Ball Nebula
Soccer Ball Nebula
planetary 18.4 Cygnus
Soul Nebula
Soul Nebula
emission 18.3 Cassiopeia
Southern Crab Nebula
Southern Crab Nebula
planetary 14.2 Centaurus
Southern Owl Nebula
Southern Owl Nebula
planetary 17.4 Hydra
Spaghetti Nebula
Spaghetti Nebula
supernova remnant Taurus
Spare-Tyre Nebula
Spare-Tyre Nebula
planetary 16.5 Grus
Spiral Planetary Nebula
Spiral Planetary Nebula
planetary 9.5 Musca
Spirograph Nebula
Spirograph Nebula
planetary 9.6 Lepus
Statue of Liberty Nebula
Statue of Liberty Nebula
emission Carina
Stingray Nebula
Stingray Nebula
planetary 10.7 Ara
Tarantula Nebula
Tarantula Nebula
emission 8 Dorado
Thor's Helmet
Thor's Helmet
emission Canis Major
Trifid Nebula
Trifid Nebula
reflection 6.3 Sagittarius
Turtle Nebula
Turtle Nebula
planetary 10.5 Hercules
Twin Jet Nebula
Twin Jet Nebula
protoplanetary 14.7 Ophiuchus
Tycho's Supernova
Tycho's Supernova
supernova remnant Cassiopeia
Veil Nebula
Veil Nebula
supernova remnant 7 Cygnus
Vela Junior
Vela Junior
supernova remnant Vela
Vela SNR
Vela SNR
supernova remnant 12 Vela
War and Peace Nebula
War and Peace Nebula
diffuse Scorpius
Water lily nebula
Water lily nebula
protoplanetary Ara
Westbrook Nebula
Westbrook Nebula
protoplanetary Auriga
Western Veil Nebula
Western Veil Nebula
supernova remnant 7 Cygnus
Witch Head Nebula
Witch Head Nebula
reflection 13 Eridanus