Over the Hedge by T Lewis and Michael Fry for May 18, 2024

Release the nebulous Kraken!

The Spleen Nebula.

The only one that looks like it’s name is the southern cross.

Actually, the nebulae tend to look the things they are named after. Constellations, less so. The big and little dipper, and the southern cross are notable exceptions to that.

The names of nebulae were mostly given either before photography (and the eye does not see colors so well at low light levels) or when photos were black and white. With color photography, things can look quite different. Often more spectacular, but not always as implied by the name. The ring nebula is still a ring in color and even more beautiful to behold.

I think they named it that because of the constellations.

I heard that it was named after a mother-in-law

Don’t forget the Horsehead Nebula, it actually does look like a horse’s head.

Squid nebula is already a thing and it really does look like a squid.

the buckaroo banzai nebula ! no matter where you go, there it is !