Photograph
The Eagle Nebula (M16)
An iconic stellar nursery in the constellation Serpens, located about 7,000 light-years from Earth. The nebula is world-famous for its majestic dark columns of dust and gas known as the "Pillars of Creation." Inside these giant cosmic towers, sculpted by the powerful winds of neighboring hot stars, new solar systems are being born at this very moment.
Beyond the frame
The Pillars of Creation appear vast and enduring, yet the surrounding radiation is continuously evaporating their surfaces. Dense knots are exposed along the edges, some containing embryonic stars. The pillars are both shelters and clocks: they protect young objects for a time, while gradually eroding and revealing what has formed inside.