The Pillars of Creation
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Issue Date
2024
Authors
Zalesski, Alexandra
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Abstract
Spring 2024 STEM Photo Contest
Description
M16, also known as the Eagle Nebula, is home to the iconic feature known as the Pillars of Creation. These pillars were formed over one million years, carved out by stellar winds from large nearby O-type stars. Located just right of the center portion of the nebula, there is an open star cluster NGC 6611, which contains young stars around the age of 5.5 million years old. The stars themselves are massive, hot blue stars with surface temperatures of about 35,000 K. They emit powerful solar winds and radiation which have carved away at the surrounding regions of gas. However, dense pockets of gas, also known as evaporating gaseous globules, have blocked the stellar wind from the area behind them, allowing gas to gather around those regions leading to the iconic shape of the Eagle Nebula that we know today!
This image was taken with over one hour's worth of total camera exposure time. The red color shows areas that predominately contain Hα gas, and the blue-like shade represents regions containing OIII gas.
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