This is a list of protoplanetary nebulae. These objects represent the final stage before a planetary nebula. During this stage, the red giant star begins to slowly expel its outermost layers of material. A protoplanetary nebula usually glows by reflecting the light from its parent star. This stage is usually brief, typically lasting no more than a few thousand years.
| Image | Name | Other designation | Date discovered | Distance (ly) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boomerang Nebula | Centaurus Bipolar Nebula | 1980 | 5,000 | ||
| Calabash Nebula | OH231.8+4.2 | 1786 | 4,200 | ||
| Egg Nebula | CRL 2688 | 1996 | 3,000 | ||
| Frosty Leo Nebula | IRAS 09371+1212 | 1976 | 3,000 | ||
| Red Rectangle Nebula | HD 44179 | 1973 | 2,300 ± 300 | ||
| Cotton Candy Nebula | IRAS 17150-3224 | ||||
| Water Lily Nebula | IRAS 16594-4656 | 1999 | |||
| IRAS 22036+5306 | 6,500 | ||||
| Westbrook Nebula | IRAS 04395+3601 | 1975 | 3,600 ± 700 | ||
| IRAS 13208-6020 | |||||
| IRAS 20068+4051 | |||||
| LL Pegasi | IRAS 23166+1655 | 2010 | 4,000 | ||
| M1-92 | IRAS 19343+2926 | 1946 | 8,000 | ||
| IRAS 19024+0044 | 11,000 | ||||
| IRAS 19475+3119 | 15,000 | ||||
| IRAS 23304+6147 | 15,000 | ||||
| Roberts 22 (MR 22) | AFGL 4104 |