What is the Interstellar Medium?
And how is it connected to everything else?
by Mariah W.
The Interstellar Medium, also known as ISM, is the gas and dust that is spread throughout all of interstellar space. Since interstellar space means the matter that exists between the stars that are spread within a galaxy. Interstellar dust is therefore found between the stars.
When the interstellar dust forms a cloud with hydrogen gas and plasma it forms a nebula.
Interstellar Dust: is found between the stars
-When it forms a cloud with hydrogen gas and plasma it forms a nebula!
-high concentrations produce diffuse nebulae and reflection nebulae
Image credit: www.strw.leidenuniv.nl/~woitke/Bilder/Cycle_of_matter_small.jpg
Nebula
A Nebula is an interstellar cloud of dust, hydrogen gas and plasma!
Nebulae can form star-forming regions in which dust, gas, and other materials clump together. These formations attract more matter and eventually become large enough to form stars and planets (as well as other planetary systems and objects)!
The Triangulum Emission Nebula NGC 604
The Cat's Eye Nebula,
an example of a planetary nebula.
Definitions:
Interstellar: situated or occurring between the stars.
The Interstellar Medium: (or ISM) is the gas and dust that spread(or spreads?) throughout all interstellar space.
Interstellar Space: is the matter that exists between the stars that are within a galaxy.
Cosmic Dust:
Interstellar Dust: is found between the stars
-When it forms a cloud with hydrogen gas and plasma it forms a nebula!
-high concentrations produce diffuse nebulae and reflection nebulae
Sources and Links:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstellar_gas
dictionary.reference.com/browse/interstellar
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dust#Atmospheric_dust
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebula
www.strw.leidenuniv.nl/~woitke/Bilder/Cycle_of_matter_small.jpg
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.