Pillars of Creation

May 8 - 9, 2024 (Cherry Springs, PA)

The Pillars of Creation are towering columns of interstellar gas and dust within the Eagle Nebula (M16), located about 6,500-7,000 light-years away in the constellation Serpens. These iconic structures, illuminated by nearby young stars, are active regions where new stars are forming amidst glowing hydrogen gas. The Pillars of Creation were famously captured by the Hubble Space Telescope in 1995, showcasing their intricate finger-like shapes and highlighting the dynamic processes of star birth within our galaxy.