The most iconic image of NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope is the view of the “Pillars of Creation”. This photograph was taken 20 years ago and shows the first time ever details of three columns of massive cold gas, bathed by ultraviolet light. It is located in an area of the Eagle Nebula, 7 ,000 light-years from Earth. Because the gas and dust are creating new stars at the same moment, they are being destroyed by light from nearby newly formed stars. These butte-like protrusions can be seen throughout star-forming areas, however the M 16 structure is far more impressive and striking. This Hubble photo has been featured on TV, in movies, pillows, television shows and even on postage stamps. Hubble sharpened the images to show the famous pillars in a larger view, and this is how it will be celebrating its *th anniversary. These pillars were also photographed using near-infrared and visible light. Infrared photos transform the pillars to eerie silhouettes against a backdrop of many stars. The infrared light can penetrate large amounts of gas and dust but not the most dense areas of the pillars. You can find newborn stars hidden within these pillars. These new images will be presented at the American Astronomical Society meeting, Seattle. Although originally called the Pillars Of Creation, the current picture can easily be referred to as the Pillars Of Destruction. Paul Scowen from Arizona State University in Tempe explained that “I am impressed by the transitory nature of these structures. These structures are being actively ablated before our eyes.” The ghostly blueish haze surrounding the edges of the columns is the result of material heating up and then evaporating into space. These pillars were captured at an extremely rare and brief moment in their evolutionary process.” Astronomers used NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope to create a sharper and larger image of the famous Eagle Nebula’s Pillars of Creation. The pillar at the top of this page is 4 light-years in length. NASA/ESA/Hubble Heritage Team, STScI/AURA/J. Hester, P. Scowen (Arizona State U.). Scowen, astronomer Jeff Hester were the first Hubble observers of the Eagle Nebula. The images show that the ends of the pillars contain dense knots made of dust and gas. The shadows of the gas beneath them keep the gas cool, keeping it from freezing and creating column-like structures. Scowen stated that “these pillars are a dynamic, active process. Scowen stated that the gas isn’t being heated up passively and then gently vanishing into space. “The gaseous columns are getting ionized. This process involves electrons being stripped of their atoms and then heated by radiation from massive stars. The stars’ powerful winds and barrages of charged particles are sandblasting the tops off these pillars.
