The “Pillars of Creation,” an iconic image of interstellar gas and dust taken by the Hubble Space Telescope in 1995, has received a stunning 3D makeover thanks to the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Located in the Eagle Nebula (M16) about 6,000 light-years away in the constellation Serpens, this image has become one of the most famous deep-sky images ever captured.
The new multiwavelength 3D visualization of the Pillars of Creation highlights the differences between the Hubble and JWST data. While Hubble captures visible light, JWST is more sensitive to infrared light, allowing astronomers to study different aspects of the same object. This new visualization offers a fresh perspective on this captivating landscape, providing new insights into how stars form.
The pillars of the nebula, massive fingers of cool molecular hydrogen and dust, are slowly being eroded by the ultraviolet light from young, hot stars in the region. The Hubble data shows impenetrable brown dust and yellow ionized gas against a greenish-blue background, while the JWST’s infrared data makes the pillars appear semi-transparent with light-blue ionized gas against a dark-blue backdrop. The tallest pillar spans about 3 light-years across.
This isn’t the first time the “Pillars of Creation” have received an infrared makeover. In 2015, Hubble imaged the Eagle Nebula in near-infrared light for its 25th anniversary, and JWST released its first image of the iconic pillars in 2022.
Mark Clampin, Astrophysics Division director at NASA Headquarters, emphasized the importance of combining observations from different space telescopes to broaden our understanding of the universe. By leveraging data from telescopes like Hubble and JWST, astronomers can gain new insights into cosmic phenomena like the Pillars of Creation.
The new 3D visualization of the Pillars of Creation offers a fresh perspective on this iconic image, allowing everyone to experience this rich and captivating landscape in a new way. As technology advances and new telescopes like JWST continue to push the boundaries of space exploration, we can look forward to even more breathtaking discoveries that deepen our understanding of the cosmos.
