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Astronomy Picture of the Day - M16: Pillars of Star Creation
APOD.NASA.gov ^ | 6 Dec, 2020 | Image Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble Space Telescope, J. Hester, P. Scowen (ASU)

Posted on 12/06/2020 3:01:57 PM PST by MtnClimber

Explanation: These dark pillars may look destructive, but they are creating stars. This pillar-capturing image of the inside of the Eagle Nebula, taken with the Hubble Space Telescope in 1995, shows evaporating gaseous globules (EGGs) emerging from pillars of molecular hydrogen gas and dust. The giant pillars are light years in length and are so dense that interior gas contracts gravitationally to form stars. At each pillars' end, the intense radiation of bright young stars causes low density material to boil away, leaving stellar nurseries of dense EGGs exposed. The Eagle Nebula, associated with the open star cluster M16, lies about 7000 light years away. The pillars of creation have been imaged more recently in infrared light by Hubble, NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, and ESA's Herschel Space Observatory -- showing new detail.


TOPICS: Science
KEYWORDS: eaglenebula; hubble; nasa; nebula; stars
To be added or removed from the Astronomy Picture of the Day ping list please send me a request via "Private Reply" (Mail).

For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then zoom by moving the magnifying glass over an area and then clicking. The side bars will move the zoomed area over the photograph.

1 posted on 12/06/2020 3:01:57 PM PST by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 12/06/2020 3:02:30 PM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; abb; AFB-XYZ; America_Right; Art in Idaho; AZ .44 MAG; ...
Pinging the APOD list.

🪐 🌟 🌌


3 posted on 12/06/2020 3:03:06 PM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

Always thought that looked more like star destruction.....


4 posted on 12/06/2020 3:13:37 PM PST by G Larry (There is no merit in compromising with the Devil.)
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To: MtnClimber

They must have had a red bias on the digital output to cause all those pink stars. Are those red stars in the pillars actually supposed to be in those gases/dust or are they shining through from behind?


5 posted on 12/06/2020 3:23:41 PM PST by diatomite (That grifter crook Biden isn't my president and never will be!! Resist!!.)
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To: MtnClimber

Gumby (in the middle) is doing a square dance with Gumby Jr. (on the right).

The square dance caller on the left is a very tall and angry-looking caterpillar.


6 posted on 12/06/2020 3:26:11 PM PST by AFB-XYZ (Option 1 -- stand up. Option 2 -- bend over.)
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To: diatomite

I see a cat to the left of the brighter pink star, and a one-eyed demon looking up from under that star.

The third pillar looks like a dementor...


7 posted on 12/06/2020 3:27:25 PM PST by null and void (My President is a Person Of Color, Orange is a Color...)
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To: diatomite

The stars are actually light years in front of the pillars....the sheer size of this is just mind boggling


8 posted on 12/06/2020 3:37:22 PM PST by pricilla (one should always try to be smarter than the equipment one is operating - Amajato)
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To: AFB-XYZ
Gumby Jr. (on the right).

I am Groot!

9 posted on 12/06/2020 3:55:51 PM PST by BlackbirdSST (If your home doesn't reek of Hoppe's, you ain't paying attention.)
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To: null and void

I am not sure what they look like, but they seem to all be fighting over the same cheeseburger.


10 posted on 12/06/2020 3:59:49 PM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

The cat just had to say ‘can I haz cheeseburger’...

...and then the fight started!


11 posted on 12/06/2020 4:04:02 PM PST by null and void (My President is a Person Of Color, Orange is a Color...)
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To: MtnClimber

Wondering why they never show the original photos..
The Only place I’ve seen pink stars is in a box of Lucky Charms....😁


12 posted on 12/06/2020 4:07:22 PM PST by Pez149
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To: MtnClimber

Another thing,
If there are creating stars,
Where’s the energy coming from?
Answer that one.
No way gasses can come together to form a solid.
It goes against Boyles gas law.


13 posted on 12/06/2020 4:11:02 PM PST by Pez149
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To: MtnClimber

One of my favorite pictures from Hubble.


14 posted on 12/06/2020 4:22:19 PM PST by hattend
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To: MtnClimber

Allot of demonic faces in that photo.


15 posted on 12/06/2020 4:36:46 PM PST by jetson (chiwowa)
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To: diatomite
They must have had a red bias on the digital output to cause all those pink stars. Are those red stars in the pillars actually supposed to be in those gases/dust or are they shining through from behind?

The image was captured through 3 bandpass filters, Oiii (Oxygen 3), Ha (Hydrogen alpha) and Sii (Sulpher 2). The combination of these filters gives the light a pink hue. The stars superimposed on the dust columns are in the foreground.

16 posted on 12/06/2020 4:38:29 PM PST by ETCM
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To: diatomite

This is made with what is called the Hubble color palette. None of the colors are true to nature. The colors were selected to make it easier for astronomers to interpret the image.


17 posted on 12/06/2020 5:15:57 PM PST by Kirkwood (Follow your Inner Trump)
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To: MtnClimber

Looks like my basement.


18 posted on 12/06/2020 7:34:46 PM PST by MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
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To: MtnClimber

“evaporating gaseous globules”

Too much Mexican food is usually the cause.


19 posted on 12/06/2020 8:55:13 PM PST by SouthernClaire (God Bless America)
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