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 June 10
       [2]Gas, dust, and stars are scattered across the image. A dark
   silhouette that looks like an eagle swoops downward towards three small
    pillars of gas. Other gas and dust pillar-like features reach out of
     the surrounding nebula. A central cluster of stars sits beneath the
                              eagle silhouette.

                        The Eagle Nebula and Friends
              Image Credit & Copyright: [3]Emmanuel Delgadillo
   Text: [4]Keighley Rockcliffe ([5]NASA [6]GSFC, [7]UMBC CSST, [8]CRESST
                                     II)

   Explanation: What looks as if it is going to swallow the great
   [9]Pillars of Creation? [10]The Eagle Nebula ([11]M16) is not a bird, a
   plane, or [12]Superman. M16 is actually a combination of several
   celestial objects. [13]NGC 6611 is the young star cluster that appears
   to peak out beneath the Eagle’s “wings”. The [14]ultraviolet light from
   these stars [15]ionizes the surrounding gas, creating the [16]emission
   nebula IC 4703. The [17]Stellar Spire is seen reaching towards the
   Pillars of Creation from the left. Both are structures of cold gas and
   [18]dust that are optimal for [19]star formation. Some astronomers
   previously thought the Pillars of Creation had been [20]evaporated away
   by a supernova. Because M16 is 6,000 [21]light years away, we would not
   be able to see the Pillars’ destruction for thousands more years.
   However, there is no conclusive evidence of the theorized supernova, so
   the Pillars of Creation will likely continue to create stars for
   [22]millions of years.

                 Tomorrow's picture: [23]mermaids in space!
     __________________________________________________________________

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    Authors & editors: [35]Robert Nemiroff ([36]MTU) & [37]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([38]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [39]Specific rights apply.
            [40]NASA Web Privacy, [41]Accessibility, [42]Notices;
                A service of: [43]ASD at [44]NASA / [45]GSFC,
                         [46]NASA Science Activation
                           & [47]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2606/eagle.jpg
   3. https://www.instagram.com/astronomono/
   4. https://kerockcliffe.com/
   5. https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/sci/bio/keighley.e.rockcliffe
   6. https://www.nasa.gov/goddard/
   7. https://csst.umbc.edu/directory/
   8. https://cresst2.umd.edu/
   9. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260531.html
  10. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap221004.html
  11. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/science/explore-the-night-sky/hubble-messier-catalog/messier-16/
  12. https://media.tenor.com/13cw7VRUdNkAAAAe/kitten-superman.png
  13. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap020103.html
  14. https://science.nasa.gov/ems/10_ultravioletwaves/
  15. https://www.astronomy.com/science/i-read-that-ultraviolet-light-is-the-cause-of-hii-regions-but-this-light-is-invisible-so-why-are-these-objects-the-color-red/
  16. https://astronomy.swin.edu.au/cosmos/E/emission+nebula
  17. https://esahubble.org/images/heic0506b/
  18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap030706.html
  19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220314.html
  20. https://www.space.com/3154-pillars-creation-toppled-stellar-blast.html
  21. https://science.nasa.gov/exoplanets/what-is-a-light-year/
  22. https://www.space.com/16396-eagle-nebula-m16-hubble-images-pillars-of-creation.html
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260611.html
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260609.html
  25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  28. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  30. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  31. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  32. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  33. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=260610
  34. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260611.html
  35. https://www.mtu.edu/physics/department/faculty/nemiroff/
  36. https://www.mtu.edu/physics/
  37. https://inspirehep.net/authors/1073087
  38. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  39. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  40. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  41. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  42. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  43. https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/astrophysics/
  44. https://www.nasa.gov/
  45. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  46. https://science.nasa.gov/learn/about-science-activation/
  47. http://www.mtu.edu/