Chapter 1: Introduction to the Pillars of Creation

On October 19, 2022, NASA unveiled the latest achievement from the James Webb Space Telescope: a stunning image of the Pillars of Creation, a renowned starscape situated in the Eagle Nebula. Webb's Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) reveals previously unseen stars and intricate details scattered throughout the scene.

This breathtaking depiction showcases the Pillars of Creation as observed by Webb’s NIRCam. Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; Joseph DePasquale (STScI), Anton M. Koekemoer (STScI), Alyssa Pagan (STScI).

The Eagle Nebula, an open star cluster located in the Serpens constellation, is a vibrant star-forming region rich in interstellar dust, which will eventually coalesce into new stars. Within this nebula, approximately 8,100 stars can be found, including HD 168076, the brightest star in this celestial area. On a clear night, this star is visible with a good telescope or binoculars.

The Eagle Nebula, photographed by the Wide-Field Imager on the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope at La Silla Observatory. The Pillars of Creation can be seen near the nebula's bright center. Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO).

While astronomers had previously examined the Eagle Nebula, it gained fame after the Hubble Space Telescope took its first image of the large pillars of interstellar dust in 1995. This captivating image became known as the Pillars of Creation, as the towering dust formations play a crucial role in the birth of new stars by drawing in material due to gravitational forces.

Webb's image of the Pillars of Creation provides a more detailed view of the dust making up this stellar nursery, giving the scene a three-dimensional quality. The stars obscured by the dust are now visible thanks to Webb’s NIRCam. These stars, located within the dust clouds, are relatively young in astronomical terms, estimated to be just a few hundred thousand years old.

This video, titled "Pillars of Creation Star in New Visualization from NASA's Hubble and Webb Telescopes," explores the stunning visualizations created by these two telescopes, showcasing the beauty and complexity of the Pillars of Creation.

In this video, "Tour the Webb Telescope's Pillars of Creation," viewers are guided through the remarkable features of the Pillars of Creation as seen by the Webb Telescope, enhancing our understanding of this iconic region.

As Hubble's original photo of the Pillars of Creation is the most recognized, many subsequent images have emerged, allowing astronomers to investigate this star-forming area in the Eagle Nebula in greater depth. Hubble revisited the Eagle Nebula two decades later, capturing the most iconic image of the pillars.

The initial image of the Pillars of Creation, taken by Hubble in 1995. Credit: NASA, Jeff Hester, and Paul Scowen (Arizona State University).

The Pillars of Creation were also instrumental in demonstrating Hubble's infrared capabilities, which foreshadowed the advancements of the James Webb Space Telescope before its launch in 2021. Hubble's infrared observations revealed stars that were previously hidden by gas and dust, allowing them to become visible.

Left: Hubble’s 2014 image of the Pillars of Creation, taken as a tribute to the original image. Middle: Hubble’s infrared view of the Pillars of Creation, also captured in 2014. Right: Webb’s image of the Pillars of Creation, taken in visible light and near-infrared in 2022. Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA).

Webb’s recent depiction of the Pillars of Creation is now available to the public for immediate viewing, along with all observations made during its first year of scientific operations.