A breathtaking 3D journey through the pillars of creation

NASAThe new 3D visualization “Pillars of Creation” combines data from the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope to provide an immersive experience into these iconic star-making clouds.

The new breathtaking visualization allows viewers to explore the fundamental questions of science, experience how science is done and discover the universe for themselves.

A team from NASA’s Universe of Learning at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland, created 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. This is the most comprehensive, detailed multi-wavelength film of these iconic star birth clouds to date.

Pillars of Creation Star in new visualization from NASA’s Hubble and Webb telescopes

NASA became famous in 1995 Hubble Space TelescopeThe Pillars of Creation at the heart of the Eagle Nebula have captivated the world with their breathtaking, ethereal beauty.

Now NASA has released a new 3D visualization of these towering celestial structures using data from NASA’s Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes. This is the most comprehensive and detailed multiwavelength movie of these star clouds to date.

Insights from multiple wavelengths

“By flying past and between the pillars, viewers will experience their three-dimensional structure and see how they differ from Hubble’s visible light view versus Webb’s infrared view,” explained Principal Visualization Scientist Frank Summers of the Space Telescope Science Institute. (STScI) in Baltimore, who led NASA’s space film development team. “The contrast helps them understand why we have more than one space telescope to observe different aspects of the same object.”

Made primarily of cold molecular hydrogen and dust, the Four Pillars of Creation are being eroded by violent winds and punishing ultraviolet light from nearby hot young stars. Protruding from the tops of the pillars are finger-like structures larger than the solar system. Embryonic stars can be embedded in these fingers. The tallest column stretches across three light-years, three-quarters of the distance between our Sun and the next nearest star.

Observational data and scientific accuracy

The film takes visitors into the three-dimensional structures of the columns. Rather than an artistic interpretation, the video is based on observational data from research led by Anna McLeod, Associate Professor at the University of Durham in the UK. McLeod also served as a scientific advisor on the film project.

“We’ve always thought about Pillars of Creation in 3D. The Webb data, combined with the Hubble data, allowed us to see the Pillars in more complete detail,” said STScI’s Production Manager Greg Bacon. “Understanding the science and how best to represent it allowed our small, talented team to rise to the challenge of visualizing this iconic structure.”

Observation and understanding at multiple wavelengths

The new visualization helps viewers experience how two of the world’s most powerful space telescopes work together to provide a more comprehensive and holistic portrait of the pillars. Hubble sees objects that shine in visible light for thousands of degrees. Sensitive to cooler objects with temperatures of only hundreds of degrees, Webb’s infrared vision penetrates 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 will 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 us with 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.”

Bringing space exploration into public education

The 3D visualization (first video in this article) created for NASA by STScI with Caltech/IPAC partners and developed by NASA’s Universe of Learning AstroViz project is part of a longer narrative video (second video in this article) that combines direct connections with science and scientists mission of NASA Astrophysics with attention to the needs of an audience of youth, families and lifelong learners. It allows viewers to explore the fundamental questions of science, experience how science is done, and discover the universe for themselves.

New developments and educational tools

Several stages of star formation are highlighted in the visualization. As viewers approach the central pillar, they will see a small protostar nestled at its top glowing bright red in infrared light. Near the top of the left column is a diagonal stream of material ejected from the newborn star. Although the jet is evidence of the birth of a star, viewers cannot see the star itself. Finally, at the end of one of the protruding “fingers” of the left column is a blazing, brand new star.

Expanding public engagement with astronomy

A bonus product from this visualization is a new 3D printable model of the Pillars of Creation. The base model of the four pillars used in the visualization has been adapted to an STL file format so viewers can download the model file and print it on 3D printers. Exploring the structure of the pillars in this tactile and interactive way adds new perspectives and insights to the overall experience.

Conclusion: Continuing Education and Research

More visualizations and connections between nebula science and students can be explored through other products created by NASA Universe of Learning, such as ViewSpace, a video exhibit currently running in nearly 200 museums and planetariums across the United States. Visitors can go beyond video to explore images created by space telescopes with interactive tools now available to museums and planetariums.

The NASA Universe of Learning materials are based on work supported by NASA under grant number NNX16AC65A to the Space Telescope Science Institute, collaborating 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. Hubble orbits the Earth from an altitude of about 547 kilometers and has revolutionized our understanding of the universe with its extraordinarily clear and deep view of space, unobstructed by the 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, offering a comprehensive view of celestial objects and phenomena that have changed scientific knowledge and public interest in space exploration.

The The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), launched on December 25, 2021, represents the next big leap in space observatories. Located nearly 1.5 million kilometers 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, to just beyond Big Bang. This ability allows astronomers to study the formation of the first galaxies, stars and planetary systems. Webb’s suite of sophisticated instruments and larger primary mirror compared to its predecessor, the Hubble Space Telescope, provide unprecedented resolution and sensitivity, making it ideal for probing exoplanet atmospheres and detecting signs of possible life. The telescope’s unique position at the second Lagrange point (L2) shields it from the light and heat of the Sun and Earth, ensuring it can observe the universe with minimal interference.

NASA’s Universe of Learning is an integrated astronomy teaching and learning program that provides resources and experiences to help viewers understand the universe while connecting them to the science and technology of NASA’s astrophysics missions. Through a collaboration between NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, the Space Telescope Science Institute, IPAC/Caltech, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, the program offers a wide variety of materials including visualizations, interactive simulations, and educational activities. These resources are designed to engage students of all ages in the process of scientific discovery, inspire the next generation of astronomers, and improve public understanding of the universe.