Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                 2026 May 31
    [2]A starfield surrounds three large brown pillars of dark dust. The
      pillars are shown vertically. Please see the explanation for more
                            detailed information.

                Eagle Nebula Pillars in Infrared from Hubble
    Image Credit: [3]NASA, [4]ESA, [5]Hubble, [6]HLA; Processing: [7]Luis
                               Romero Ventura

   Explanation: Newborn stars are forming in the Eagle Nebula. They are
   gravitationally contracting in [8]pillars of dense gas and dust. The
   intense radiation of these newly-formed bright stars is causing
   surrounding material to boil away. [9]This image, taken with the
   [10]Hubble Space Telescope in near [11]infrared light, allows the
   viewer to [12]see through much of the thick dust that makes [13]the
   pillars opaque in [14]visible light. The [15]giant structures are
   [16]light years in length and dubbed informally the [17]Pillars of
   Creation. Associated with the [18]open star cluster [19]M16, the Eagle
   Nebula lies about 6,500 [20]light years away. The [21]Eagle Nebula is a
   satisfying target for small telescopes in a nebula-rich part of the sky
   toward the [22]split constellation [23]Serpens Cauda (the tail of the
   snake).

      Sky Surprise: [24]What picture did APOD feature on your birthday?
                                (after 1995)
                       Tomorrow's picture: open space
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    Authors & editors: [36]Robert Nemiroff ([37]MTU) & [38]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([39]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [40]Specific rights apply.
            [41]NASA Web Privacy, [42]Accessibility, [43]Notices;
                A service of: [44]ASD at [45]NASA / [46]GSFC,
                         [47]NASA Science Activation
                           & [48]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2605/M16Ir_HubbleRomero_2786.jpg
   3. https://www.nasa.gov/
   4. https://www.esa.int/
   5. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/
   6. https://hla.stsci.edu/
   7. https://www.instagram.com/luisromeroventura/
   8. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap150107.html
   9. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bjj5V-3FUvi/
  10. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap021124.html
  11. https://science.nasa.gov/ems/07_infraredwaves/
  12. https://asd.gsfc.nasa.gov/blueshift/index.php/2016/09/13/hubble-false-color/
  13. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d1/3D_data_visualisation_of_the_Pillars_of_Creation.webm
  14. https://science.nasa.gov/ems/09_visiblelight/
  15. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap150107.html
  16. https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/light-year/
  17. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pillars_of_Creation
  18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/open_clusters.html
  19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap030921.html
  20. http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/cosmic_distance.html
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap230515.html
  22. https://blogmais.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/imagem_ht_07-04-23.jpg?w=256&h=258
  23. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serpens
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260530.html
  26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  29. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  31. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  32. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  33. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  34. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=260531
  35. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260601.html
  36. https://www.mtu.edu/physics/department/faculty/nemiroff/
  37. https://www.mtu.edu/physics/
  38. https://inspirehep.net/authors/1073087
  39. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  40. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  41. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  42. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  43. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  44. https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/astrophysics/
  45. https://www.nasa.gov/
  46. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  47. https://science.nasa.gov/learn/about-science-activation/
  48. http://www.mtu.edu/