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Eagle Nebula Gas Pillars

Photo: Pillars of gas in the Eagle nebula

Pillars of hydrogen gas and dust streaming from the Eagle nebula give birth to new stars. The largest pillar (left) is an estimated four light-years long and, like its neighbors, is being bombarded by ultraviolet starlight that boils away gas on its surface and exposes the embryonic stars forming in its interior. The stepped shape of this image is caused by the design of Hubble's Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2.

Photograph courtesy NASA, ESA, STScI, J. Hester and P. Scowen (Arizona State University)