Sixth Years: Lesson Five

Professor Nakamura got himself ready for the lesson, excited for this particular class. Once the students started coming in, he put down his reading materials and smiled at them as they entered. He prided himself on having a welcoming atmosphere to his classes. “Welcome back,” he greeted as they all settled into their seats, this week arranged in a circle. “Tonight, we’ll be studying nebulae.”

Professor Nakamura moved to the centre of the circle. “Nebulae are where stars are born, but also the remnants of dying stars. They consist of clouds of gas and dust, with the gas thinner than it is here on Earth. The dust particles are also different, being about one micron big. A strand of hair is one hundred times larger than that.”

Professor Nakamura moved back a little bit, then took out his wand, giving it a wave. A three dimensional representation began to emerge in the centre of the room of a nebula. “Here you see the Orion nebula,” Professor Nakamura explained. He then began to read out loud the notes for the class.

Spoiler: Class Notes

Diffuse Nebulae: Lack a distinct border, appear to fade as you move away from the centre. Consists of three types:

• Emission Nebulae: Emit light in the visible spectrum as well as infrared and ultraviolet. Hydrogen gas emits red light, oxygen green/blue light are two main examples of the gas that is normally found in emission nebulae.
  Example: Orion Nebula
• Reflection Nebulae: The gas and dust reflects light from nearby stars back at us.
  Example: Pleiades star cluster and Messier 78 (M78)
• Dark Nebulae: Thick enough dust and gas clouds that it blocks out light.
  Example: Horsehead Nebula and B68

Planetary Nebulae: These are clouds of gas pushed out by an dying star and contain a distinct border. These outer layers of the star glow brightly while leaving behind a white dwarf star, the core of the former star. The gas forms a shell around the star, the was once confused with being similar to planets, hence their name. Example: NGC 2022 / NGC 2022

Supernova Remnants: What is left over of an exploding star. The gas and dust will slowly across millions of years form a new star. Example: The Crab Nebula

It was a lot of information to take in, but Professor Nakamura was confident his students could do it. “You might have noticed that, for the most part, we haven’t strayed from the Orion constellation. The Orion constellation actually contains something called the Giant Molecular Cloud Complex, or the Orion Complex. This consists of twenty different nebulae.” Professor Nakamura zoomed them out to show the Orion constellation, then linked the stars for those who still weren’t familiar with it. “For homework I’d like you to research a nebula, and write a short essay on the subject. Class dismissed.”
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Roleplay the lesson for full marks.
Homework is a short essay on a nebula of your choosing (100 words minimum)

 

[Victoria de Lacey]

Tori was so tired she trudged up the steps to the Gryffindor tower, only to realise she was accidentally in the Astronomy tower and quickly rushed back out again.

 

[Elio Boneheart]

Elio walked into Professor Nakamura's class, feeling a little uneasy. Astronomy was one of the few subjects that offered him a sense of peace amidst the growing complexity of his week. The usual rhythm of his days had been disrupted by unexpected feelings and thoughts about certain people in his life—feelings he wasn’t sure how to process or what to do with. As he took his seat in the circle, he hoped that immersing himself in the vastness of space would help clear his mind, if only for a while.

As Professor Nakamura began discussing nebulae, Elio found himself captivated by the idea of stars being born and dying within these immense clouds of gas and dust. The visual representation of the Orion Nebula, swirling and alive with colour, seemed to pull his attention away from his tangled emotions. He scribbled down notes as the professor explained the different types of nebulae, the words "diffuse," "reflection," and "supernova remnants" filling his notebook. The thought of something as chaotic and beautiful as a nebula giving birth to new stars made him wonder if, perhaps, his own confusing feelings could lead to something meaningful in the end. As the class ended and Professor Nakamura assigned the essay, Elio felt a little more centered, ready to focus on something tangible like researching a nebula. It was a small comfort, but one he was grateful for.
​

The Crab Nebula: A Cosmic Reminder of Life and Death

The Crab Nebula, located in the constellation Taurus, is one of the most studied supernova remnants. It was first observed by Chinese astronomers in 1054 AD when a supernova explosion created a bright star visible even during the day. The nebula spans about 11 light-years across and is composed of gases and dust left over from the explosion. At its center lies a neutron star, or pulsar, which emits radiation detectable from Earth. The Crab Nebula is a striking reminder of the cycle of life and death in the universe, where even in destruction, new forms of energy and matter emerge.

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