Pillars of Creation

star-forming columns in the Eagle Nebula · M16

6,500 light-years from Earth

Towers of cold gas and dust are eroded by ultraviolet light from the young cluster NGC 6611. Stars forming inside their tips fire jets out of the dust.

• the tallest pillar is ~4 light-years high
• ultraviolet from O-type stars boils its surface away

kind

nebula