New view of the Pillars of Creation — infrared

The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has revisited one of its most iconic and popular images: the Eagle Nebula’s Pillars of Creation.

This image shows the pillars as seen in infrared light, allowing it to pierce through obscuring dust and gas and unveil a more unfamiliar — but just as amazing — view of the pillars.

In this ethereal view the entire frame is peppered with bright stars and baby stars are revealed being formed within the pillars themselves. The ghostly outlines of the pillars seem much more delicate, and are silhouetted against an eerie blue haze.

Hubble also captured the pillars in visible light.

Credit:

NASAESA/Hubble and the Hubble Heritage Team

About the Image

Id:heic1501b
Type:Observation
Release date:5 January 2015, 23:15
Related releases:heic1501
Size:3249 x 3045 px

About the Object

Name:Eagle Nebula, M 16, Messier 16
Type:Milky Way : Nebula : Type : Star Formation
Distance:7000 light years
Constellation:Serpens Cauda
Category:Nebulae

Image Formats

r.titleLarge JPEG
5.8 MB
r.titleScreensize JPEG
852.2 KB

Zoomable


Wallpapers

r.title1024x768
815.8 KB
r.title1280x1024
1.2 MB
r.title1600x1200
1.7 MB
r.title1920x1200
1.8 MB
r.title2048x1536
2.4 MB

Coordinates

Position (RA):18 18 52.09
Position (Dec):-13° 50' 5.25"
Field of view:4.34 x 4.06 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 35.1° left of vertical


Colours & filters

BandWavelengthTelescope
Infrared1.1 μm Hubble Space Telescope
WFC3
Infrared1.6 μm Hubble Space Telescope
WFC3

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