astronomicalwonders: “The Pillars Of Creation” - A Portion of M16, the Eagle Ne

astronomicalwonders:

“The Pillars Of Creation” - A Portion of M16, the Eagle Nebula

These massive pillars of gas and dust, the largest measuring 4 light-years tall, are some of the most famous in the universe (at least to humans). Dubbed “the pillars of creation”, these dark pillar-like structures are actually columns of cool interstellar hydrogen gas and dust that act as incubators for new stars. These dense clouds have survived longer than their surroundings in the face of a flood of ultraviolet light from hot, massive newborn stars. This flood of ultraviolet light is known as photoevaporation and is responsible for illuminating the convoluted surfaces of the columns and the ghostly streamers of gas boiling away from their surfaces. Thanks to this process, astronomers and scientists can observe dramatic visual effects that highlight the three-dimensional nature of the clouds. Located 6,500 light-years away in the constellation Serpens, this image of star formation remains one of the Hubble space telescope’s most famous.

Credit: NASA/Hubble