National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)‘s 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 the iconic star-birth cloud.
Breathtaking new visualizations allow viewers to explore fundamental scientific questions, experience how science is done, and discover the universe for themselves.
NASA’s Universe of Learning team at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland, has combined data from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and James Webb Space Telescope to create a stunning new 3D visualization of the towering “Pillars of Creation” in the Eagle Nebula — the most comprehensive, detailed, multi-wavelength movie to date of these iconic star-birth clouds.
New visualization of stars in the Pillars of Creation from NASA’s Hubble-Webb Telescope
In 1995, NASA Hubble Space TelescopeThe Pillar of Creation at the center of the Eagle Nebula has captured the hearts of people all over the world with its mesmerizing and fantastical beauty.
Now, using data from the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope, NASA has released a new 3D visualization of these towering celestial structures — the most comprehensive, detailed, multi-wavelength movie to date of these star-birth clouds.
Insights from multiple wavelengths
“By flying between the pillars, viewers will experience the three-dimensional structure of the pillars and see how they look different in Hubble’s visible light view and Webb’s infrared view,” explained Frank Summers, principal visualization scientist at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, who led NASA’s team that developed the film. The Universe of Learning“This contrast helps us understand why we need multiple space telescopes to observe different aspects of the same object.”
The four pillars of creation are made up mainly of cold molecular hydrogen and dust, eroded away by fierce winds and intense ultraviolet radiation from nearby hot young stars. Finger-like structures larger than our solar system protrude from the tops of the pillars. Embedded within these fingers may be newborn stars. The tallest pillar stretches for three light-years, which is three-quarters of the distance between the Sun and the next nearest star.
Observational data and scientific accuracy
The film takes visitors inside the pillar’s three-dimensional structure. The video is not an artistic interpretation, but is based on observational data from a scientific paper led by Anna McLeod, an associate professor at Durham University in the UK, who also served as a scientific advisor to the film project.
“We always had the idea in mind to create the Pillars of Creation in 3D, and combining the Webb data with Hubble data allowed us to see the Pillars of Creation in greater detail,” said Greg Bacon, production lead for STScI. “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.”
Multi-wavelength observation and understanding
The new footage takes viewers through how two of the world’s most powerful space telescopes are working together to provide a more complex and comprehensive portrait of the pillar. Hubble observes objects glowing in visible light at thousands of degrees. Webb’s infrared vision is sensitive to cooler objects with temperatures of a few hundred degrees, penetrating the obscuring dust to see the stars embedded in the pillar.
“Combining observations at different wavelengths of light from NASA’s space telescopes expands our understanding of the universe,” said Mark Crumpen, director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “The Pillars of Creation region continues to provide us with new insights that deepen our understanding of star formation, and this new visualization now allows everyone to experience this rich, fascinating landscape in a new way.”
Incorporating space exploration into public learning
Produced by STScI in collaboration with our partners at Caltech/IPAC for NASA and developed by NASA’s 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) that combines a direct connection to the science and scientists of NASA’s astrophysics missions with attention to the needs of youth, families, and lifelong learner audiences, allowing viewers to explore fundamental scientific questions, experience how science is done, and discover the universe for themselves.
New Developments and Educational Tools
This visualization highlights several stages of star formation. As you approach the central pillar, you can see a young protostar embedded at its top, glowing bright red in the infrared. Near the top of the left pillar is an oblique jet of material ejected from the newborn star; the jet is evidence of stellar birth, but the star itself is not visible. Finally, at the tip of the protruding “finger” of the left pillar is a glowing brand new star.
Expanding public interest in astronomy
The bonus products from this visualization are new 3D printable model of the Pillars of CreationThe basic models of the four pillars used for the visualization have been adapted into an STL file format, allowing viewers to download the model files and print them on a 3D printer. Exploring the pillar structure in such a tactile and interactive way adds new perspectives and insights to the overall experience.
Conclusion: Continuing Education and Exploration
Further visualization and connection of learners to the science of nebulae can be explored through other products produced by NASA’s Universe of Learning. View Spacea video exhibit currently on show in about 200 museums and planetariums across the U.S. Interactive tools now available in museums and planetariums allow visitors to go beyond the video and explore the images captured by the space telescope.
NASA’s Universe of Learning materials are based on research supported by NASA under Grant No. NNX16AC65A to the Space Telescope Science Institute, in collaboration with Caltech/IPAC, Pasadena, California, the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, La Cañada-Flintridge, California.
Launched in 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope is one of the most important instruments in the history of astronomy. Orbiting Earth from approximately 547 kilometers above the Earth, the Hubble Telescope revolutionized our understanding of the universe by observing it with exceptional clarity and depth, unobstructed by the Earth’s atmosphere. Over the decades, the Hubble Telescope provided invaluable data and stunning images that led to major discoveries in various areas of astrophysics, including the rate of expansion of the universe, the existence of dark matter, and the properties of exoplanets. Unlike ground-based telescopes, the Hubble Telescope can take high-resolution images in ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared light, providing a comprehensive picture of celestial objects and phenomena that transformed both scientific knowledge and public interest in space exploration.
of James Webb Space Telescope The JWST, launched on December 25, 2021, represents the next big leap for space observatories. Located about 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, Webb is designed to observe the universe primarily in the infrared spectrum, allowing it to look even further back in time than ever before: to just after the Moon was born. big bangThis capability allows astronomers to study the formation of the first galaxies, stars, and planetary systems. Webb’s advanced instrument suite and larger primary mirror compared to its predecessor, the Hubble Space Telescope, give it unprecedented resolution and sensitivity, making it ideal for exploring exoplanet atmospheres and detecting signs of life. The telescope’s unique location at the second Lagrangian point (L2) protects it from the light and heat of the Sun and Earth, allowing it to observe the universe with minimal interference.
NASA’s Universe of Learning is an integrated astronomy learning and education program that provides resources and experiences to help audiences understand the universe while connecting with the science and technology of NASA’s astrophysics missions. Through a collaboration between NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, Space Telescope Science Institute, IPAC/Caltech, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, the 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 deepening public understanding of the universe.