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Astronomy Picture of the Day - Eagle Nebula Pillars in Infrared from Hubble
NASA ^ | 31 May, 2026 | Image Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble, HLA; Processing: Luis Romero Ventura

Posted on 05/31/2026 2:02:12 PM PDT by MtnClimber

Explanation: Newborn stars are forming in the Eagle Nebula. They are gravitationally contracting in pillars of dense gas and dust. The intense radiation of these newly-formed bright stars is causing surrounding material to boil away. This image, taken with the Hubble Space Telescope in near infrared light, allows the viewer to see through much of the thick dust that makes the pillars opaque in visible light. The giant structures are light years in length and dubbed informally the Pillars of Creation. Associated with the open star cluster M16, the Eagle Nebula lies about 6,500 light years away. The Eagle Nebula is a satisfying target for small telescopes in a nebula-rich part of the sky toward the split constellation Serpens Cauda (the tail of the snake).


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; nasa
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 move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.

1 posted on 05/31/2026 2:02:12 PM PDT by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 05/31/2026 2:02:45 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; A Navy Vet; A_perfect_lady; abb; AFB-XYZ; AFPhys; ...
Pinging the APOD list

🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔

3 posted on 05/31/2026 2:03:40 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

Is there a picture of what our Milky Way galaxy might look like?


4 posted on 05/31/2026 2:24:52 PM PDT by SkyDancer ( ~ Am Yisrael Chai ~)
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To: MtnClimber

I see ghosts.


5 posted on 05/31/2026 2:36:56 PM PDT by ComputerGuy
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To: MtnClimber
Here's what I envision: Horse saves dog from nasty fish. Not all heroes wear saddles; when jaws drop, courage gallops.


6 posted on 05/31/2026 3:03:48 PM PDT by Deaf and Discerning
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To: MtnClimber

I see the Balrog looming over Gandalf in Moria - “You shall not pass! Oh, holy crap, you’re big. Go ahead, pass. Eat the little creeps with the furry feet first.”


7 posted on 05/31/2026 3:07:32 PM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: MtnClimber

Beautiful. I never tire of looking at this.


8 posted on 05/31/2026 3:27:26 PM PDT by telescope115 (Ad Astra, Ad Deum…)
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To: MtnClimber

Looks like a guy in a horse suit with a crow on his head dancing with a Yorkie dog while Godzilla plays the trombone in the background.


9 posted on 05/31/2026 3:52:25 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer” )
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To: blueunicorn6
Looks like a guy in a horse suit with a crow on his head dancing with a Yorkie dog while Godzilla plays the trombone in the background.

You are correct...AND the guy in the horse suit is waiting for a cheeseburger to be delivered.

10 posted on 05/31/2026 5:04:42 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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