M16: A Star Forming Pillar from Webb
Explanation:
WhatБs happening inside this interstellar mountain?
Stars are forming.
The mountain is actually a column of gas and dust in the
picturesque Eagle Nebula (M16).
A
pillar like this is so
low in density that you could easily
fly
though it --
it only appears solid because of its high
dust
content and
great depth.
The glowing areas are lit internally by
newly formed stars.
These areas shine in
red and
infrared
light because
blue light
is scattered away by intervening
interstellar dust.
The featured image was captured recently in
near-infrared light in unprecedented detail by the
James Webb Space Telescope
(JWST),
launched late last year.
Energetic light, abrasive
winds,
and final
supernovas from
these young stars will
slowly
destroy
this stellar birth column over
the next 100,000 years.
Astrophysicists:
Browse 2,900+ codes in the Astrophysics Source Code Library
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
