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what is nebula
A planetary nebula is a phenomenon that occurs when a small to medium-sized star approaches the end of its life cycle. While very large stars end their lives in an explosion of light called a supernova, smaller stars fade out more gradually as gases and radiation exit their core. The first planetary nebula was discovered in 1764, and more than 2,000 have been found since that time, with most located in the Milky Way galaxy. The planetary nebula is so named because the escaping gases create a planet-like shape, but these celestial bodies have little to do with planets in the traditional sense. 


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