protoplanetary nebula

English

Etymology

From proto- +‎ planetary nebula.

Noun

protoplanetary nebula (plural protoplanetary nebulae or protoplanetary nebulas)

1. (astronomy) A stage in stellar evolution when a star starts to shed its outer layers before coming a true planetary nebula.

Synonyms

• preplanetary nebula

Translations

stage in stellar evolution

• Finnish: esiplanetaarinen sumu

See also

• protoplanetary disk