Space Telescopes Hubble and James Webb Display the Foundation Stones of Creation

The fame of the Pillars of Creation was established by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope when it captured its initial image in 1995. However, in 2014, the telescope revisited the scene, presenting a sharper and wider view in visible light, depicted on the left above.

The recent perspective, captured in near-infrared light by the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope, displayed on the right, allows us to peer through more of the dust present in this star-forming region. The once thick, dusty brown pillars now appear less opaque, and a multitude of red stars actively forming become visible.

In the Hubble view, the pillars of gas and dust seem darker and less penetrable, contrasting with Webb's view where they appear more translucent. The background of the Hubble image resembles a sunrise, transitioning from yellows at the bottom to light green and deeper blues at the top, emphasizing the dust's thickness that obscures many stars in the overall region.

Conversely, Webb's image exhibits a background light in blue hues, highlighting hydrogen atoms and revealing numerous stars scattered across the scene. By penetrating the dusty pillars, Webb enables the identification of stars that have recently broken free or are on the verge of doing so. Near-infrared light's ability to traverse thick dust clouds enhances our understanding of this remarkable scene.

Both perspectives offer insights into local occurrences. While Hubble emphasizes dense layers of dust, Webb showcases more stars. However, neither provides a glimpse into the deeper universe. Dust obstructs the view in Hubble's image, while Webb's image is affected by the interstellar medium, akin to thick smoke or fog, preventing us from observing the vast expanse where countless galaxies exist.

The Pillars of Creation are situated within the Eagle Nebula, an expansive star-forming region located 6,500 light-years from Earth.