Pillars of Creation

These columns that resemble stalagmites protruding from the floor of a cavern columns are in fact cool interstellar hydrogen gas and dust that act as incubators for new stars. Inside them and on their surface astronomers have found knots or globules of denser gas. These are called EGGs (acronym for "Evaporating Gaseous Globules"). Inside at least some of the EGGs stars being formed.

Undersea coral? Enchanted castles? Space serpents? These eerie, dark pillar-like structures are actually columns of cool interstellar hydrogen gas and dust that are also incubators for new stars. The pillars protrude from the interior wall of a dark molecular cloud like stalagmites from the floor of a cavern.

Credit:

Jeff Hester and Paul Scowen (Arizona State University), and NASA/ESA

About the Image

NASA press release
Id:opo9544a
Type:Observation
Release date:5 January 2015, 23:15
Related releases:heic1501
Size:1518 x 1497 px

About the Object

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

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Coordinates

Position (RA):18 18 50.63
Position (Dec):-13° 49' 51.76"
Field of view:2.51 x 2.47 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 42.3° left of vertical


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