The Eagle Nebula, one of the most iconic images from the Hubble Space Telescope, has been reprocessed using modern techniques to showcase its breathtaking beauty in even greater detail. This stunning picture, originally published in 2005, highlights the cosmic pillar of gas and dust towering 9.5 light-years tall.
Located 7,000 light-years away in the constellation Serpens, the Eagle Nebula is a major hub for star formation, with radiation from young stars lighting up layers of cold gas and dust. The new image reveals how this process erodes the massive tower, covering an area equal to twice the distance from the sun to Alpha Centauri.
The Eagle Nebula’s unique structure is reminiscent of another famous Hubble image, the Pillars of Creation, which were released in 1995. Both images feature dust pillars around the edge of the nebula’s heart, sculpted by radiation from a cluster of young stars.
To celebrate the Hubble Space Telescope’s 35th anniversary, this reprocessed image highlights the telescope’s enduring legacy in space exploration and discovery.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/space/astronomy/space-photo-of-the-week-hubble-telescope-marks-35-years-by-revisiting-the-eagle-nebula