To commemorate its 35th anniversary, the Hubble Space Telescope has once again captured the breathtaking Pillars of Creation within the Eagle Nebula.
This new image reveals intricate details of the nebula's dust and gas structures, which span approximately 9.5 light-years. These pillars are composed primarily of cold hydrogen gas, the birthplace of new stars.
The distinctive shapes of the Pillars of Creation are sculpted by the powerful radiation and stellar winds emitted from young, hot stars within the nebula. This radiation also ionizes the surrounding gas, causing it to glow with vibrant colors.