One of the most suggestive and fascinating images of Space, portrays the so-called Pillars of Creationlocated in the heart of M16or Eagle Nebula. First obtained in 1995 thanks to the space telescope Hubblethey are far away almost 7,000 light years from Earth. Made up of enormous columns of gas (cold hydrogen) and interstellar dust, new stars are forming inside them. Having become one of the most iconic images of Astronomy, NASA now dedicates an aspect to them even more immersive and capable of leaving you enchanted.
The 3D version in a hypnotic video
The name “Pillars of Creation” was chosen by NASA and published in the press release at the time of their disclosure. The origin may be traced back to a phrase by a British preacher, who in the second half of the 19th century used the words “pillars of creation” to refer, in a religious context, to the works of God in the Universe. Whatever the origin of their name, the fascinating structures now continue to leave you breathless even on the eve of the thirty years since their first image, with a 3D video created through the union of data and images acquired not only by Hubble, but also by James Webb.
Lasting two and a half minutes, spectators will be able to “fly” around the pillarsobserve its three-dimensional structure and see how they look different from Hubble’s eyes in visible light and Webb’s in infrared light as explained by the scientist who led the team that developed the film, Frank Summers, of the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) of Baltimore.
The video has a very specific purpose. In fact, it is aimed at a young audience and families and allows them to “explore fundamental questions about science, experience how science is done and discover the universe for themselves”, as stated on the NASA website dedicated to the project. Not only that: «The Pillars of Creation region continues to offer us new insights that refine our understanding of how stars form. Now, with this new visualization, everyone can experience this rich and captivating landscape in a new way,” said Mark Clampin, director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
It’s not all
Those hungry for Astronomy, fascinated by these immense objects (their extension reaches up to 5 light years!) there is an entire section dedicated to the Pillars of Creation. On Universe of Learningyou will be able to access additional images, videos, printable 3D models and even listen to the sound of the most iconic structures in the Universe.
