Editing Reflection nebula (section)

 {{Short description|Clouds of interstellar dust which reflect the light of nearby stars}}
[[File:reflection.nebula.arp.750pix.jpg|thumb|200px|       The [[IC 2118|Witch Head reflection nebula]] (IC2118), about 900 light years from Earth, is associated with the bright star Rigel in the constellation [[Orion (constellation)|Orion]]. The nebula glows primarily by light reflected from Rigel, located just outside the top right corner of the image. Fine dust in the nebula reflects the light. The blue color is caused not only by Rigel's blue color but because the dust grains reflect blue light more efficiently than red.]]

In [[astronomy]], '''reflection nebulae''' are [[interstellar cloud|clouds]] of [[Cosmic dust|interstellar dust]] which might reflect the light of a nearby [[star]] or stars. The energy from the nearby stars is insufficient to [[Ionization|ionize]] the gas of the nebula to create an [[emission nebula]], but is enough to give sufficient [[scattering]] to make the dust visible. Thus, the [[frequency spectrum]] shown by reflection nebulae is similar to that of the illuminating stars. Among the microscopic particles responsible for the scattering are carbon compounds (e.&nbsp;g. diamond dust) and compounds of other elements such as iron and nickel. The latter two are often aligned with the [[Galaxy#Magnetic fields|galactic magnetic field]] and cause the scattered light to be slightly [[Polarization (waves)|polarized]].<ref>Kaler, 1997.</ref>