This image is a mosaic of visible and infrared views of the same frame from the Pillars of Creation visualization. The three-dimensional model of the pillars created for the visualization sequence is shown alternately in the Hubble Space Telescope version (visible light) and the Webb Space Telescope version (infrared light). Credits: Greg Bacon (STScI), Ralf Crawford (STScI), Joseph DePasquale (STScI), Leah Hustak (STScI), Christian Nieves (STScI), Joseph Olmsted (STScI), Alyssa Pagan (STScI), Frank Summers (STScI), NASA Learning Universe
NASAThe new 3D visualization of the “Pillars of Creation” combines data from the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes to provide an immersive experience inside these iconic star-giving clouds.
This breathtaking new visualization allows viewers to explore fundamental questions in science, discover how science is done, and experience the universe for themselves.
A team from NASA’s Universe of Learning at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland, has produced a stunning new 3D visualization of the towering “Pillars of Creation” in the Eagle Nebula by combining data from NASA’s Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes. It’s the most comprehensive and detailed multi-wavelength video to date of these iconic star-forming clouds.
The Pillars of Creation star in a new visualization from NASA’s Hubble and Webb telescopes
Made famous in 1995 by NASA The Hubble Space TelescopeThe pillars of creation at the heart of the Eagle Nebula have captivated the imagination of the world with their striking, ethereal beauty.
NASA has released a new 3D visualization of these imposing celestial structures using data from NASA’s Hubble and James Webb space telescopes. This is the most comprehensive and detailed multi-wavelength video to date of these star-generating clouds.
Information from multiple wavelengths
“As viewers fly over and pass through the pillars, they learn about their three-dimensional structure and see how they appear differently in the visible light view of the Hubble telescope compared to the infrared view of the Webb telescope,” said Frank Summers, a visualization researcher at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore who led the development team for NASA’s Universe of Learning film. “The contrast helps them understand why we have more than one space telescope to observe different aspects of the same object.”
The four pillars of creation, made mostly of cold molecular hydrogen and dust, are eroded by strong winds and punishing ultraviolet light from hot young stars nearby. Finger-shaped structures, larger than the solar system, protrude from the tops of the pillars. Embryonic stars may be embedded inside these fingers. The tallest pillar spans three light years, or three-quarters of the distance between our Sun and the nearest star.
Observational data and scientific precision
The film takes visitors inside the three-dimensional structures of the pillars. Rather than an artistic interpretation, the video is based on observational data from a scientific paper led by Anna McLeod, an associate professor at Durham University in the United Kingdom. McLeod also served as a scientific advisor on the film project.
“The pillars of creation have always been in our mind to create in 3D. The Webb data combined with the Hubble data allowed us to see the pillars in more detail,” said Greg Bacon, STScI production manager. “Understanding the science and knowing how to best represent it allowed our small, talented team to take on the challenge of visualizing this iconic structure. »
Observations and understanding of multiple wavelengths
The new visualization helps viewers discover how two of the world’s most powerful space telescopes work together to provide a more complex and holistic portrait of the pillars. Hubble sees objects shining in visible light, thousands of degrees away. Webb’s infrared vision, which is sensitive to cooler objects with temperatures of only a few hundred degrees, pierces the obscuring dust to see the stars embedded in the pillars.
“When we combine observations from NASA’s space telescopes at different wavelengths of light, we expand our understanding of the universe,” said Mark Clampin, director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “The Pillars of Creation region continues to provide new insights that advance our understanding of how stars form. Now, with this new visualization, everyone can experience this rich and captivating landscape in a new way.”
Integrating space exploration into public education
Produced for NASA by STScI with partners from Caltech/IPAC and developed by the NASA Universe of Learning AstroViz project, the 3D visualization (first video in this article) is part of a longer, narrated video ( second video in this article) which combines a direct connection to the science and scientists of NASA’s astrophysics missions with attention to the needs of an audience of young people, families and lifelong learners. It allows viewers to explore fundamental questions in science, experience how science is done, and discover the universe for themselves.
New features and educational tools
Several stages of star formation are highlighted in the visualization. As observers approach the central pillar, they see a buried protostar at its summit, still young, sparkling bright red in infrared light. Near the top of the left pillar is a diagonal jet of material ejected from a nascent star. Although the jet is evidence of star birth, observers cannot see the star itself. Finally, at the end of one of the protruding “fingers” of the left pillar is a brand new blazing star.
This photograph shows a 3D printed model of the famous Pillars of Creation in the Eagle Nebula. The 3D sculpted computer model used in the Pillars of Creation visualization has been converted to STL file format and placed on a round base for use with 3D printers. Credit: Leah Hustak (STScI), Ralf Crawford (STScI), NASA Learning Universe
Expanding public engagement with astronomy
A bonus product of this visualization is a new 3D printable model of the Pillars of Creation. The basic model of the four pillars used in the visualization has been adapted into STL file format, so that viewers can download the model file and print it on 3D printers. Examining the structure of the pillars in this tactile and interactive way adds new perspectives and information to the overall experience.
Conclusion: Continued Education and Exploration
Further visualizations and connections between nebula science and learners can be explored through other products created by NASA’s Universe of Learning, such as ViewSpace, a video exhibit currently playing in nearly 200 museums and planetariums in the USA. Visitors can go beyond video to explore images produced by space telescopes with interactive tools now available to museums and planetariums.
The NASA Learning Universe materials are based on work supported by NASA under award number NNX16AC65A to the Space Telescope Science Institute, in partnership with Caltech/IPAC, Pasadena, California, Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Jet Propulsion Laboratory, La Cañada Flintridge, California.
The Hubble Space Telescope, launched in 1990, is one of the most important instruments in the history of astronomy. Orbiting Earth at an altitude of approximately 547 kilometers, Hubble revolutionized our understanding of the universe with its extraordinarily clear and deep view of the cosmos, unobstructed by Earth’s atmosphere. Over the decades, it has provided invaluable data and stunning images that have led to major discoveries in various areas of astrophysics, including the rate of expansion of the universe, the presence of dark matter and the properties of exoplanets. Unlike ground-based telescopes, Hubble can capture high-resolution images in ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared light, providing a comprehensive view of celestial objects and phenomena that has transformed both scientific knowledge and public interest in space exploration.
The Télescope spatial James Webb (JWST), launched on December 25, 2021, represents the next big leap forward in space observatories. Located nearly 1.5 million miles from Earth, Webb is designed to observe the universe primarily in the infrared spectrum, allowing it to look further back in time than ever before, just past Earth. Big Bang. This ability allows astronomers to study the formation of the first galaxies, stars and planetary systems. Webb’s sophisticated instrument suite and larger primary mirror, compared to its predecessor, the Hubble Space Telescope, provide unprecedented resolution and sensitivity, making it ideal for exploring the atmospheres of exoplanets and detecting signs of possible life. The telescope’s unique position at the second Lagrange point (L2) protects it from the light and heat of the Sun and Earth, allowing it to observe the cosmos with minimal interference.
NASA’s Universe of Learning is an integrated astronomy learning and education program that provides resources and experiences to help the public understand the universe while connecting them to mission science and technology of NASA astrophysics. Through collaboration between NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, the Space Telescope Science Institute, IPAC/Caltech, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, this program offers a wide range of materials, including visualizations, interactive simulations and educational activities. These resources are designed to engage learners of all ages in the process of scientific discovery, inspiring the next generation of astronomers and enhancing the public’s understanding of the universe.
