HAUNTING! NASA James Webb Telescope Pillars of Creation photo is simply fantastic

Don't be scared! NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has captured a haunting photo that reveals dust and structures out there in deep space that it has dubbed as the Pillars of Creation. Explaining the image, NASA on Friday said, "This is not an ethereal landscape of time-forgotten tombs. Nor are these soot-tinged fingers reaching out. These pillars, flush with gas and dust, enshroud stars that are slowly forming over many millennia. NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has snapped this eerie, extremely dusty view of the Pillars of Creation in mid-infrared light – showing us a new view of a familiar landscape."

Also, answering the question why does mid-infrared light set such a chilling mood in James Webb Space Telescope’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) image, the research organisation said, "Interstellar dust cloaks the scene. And while mid-infrared light specializes in detailing where dust is, the stars aren’t bright enough at these wavelengths to appear. Instead, these looming, leaden-hued pillars of gas and dust gleam at their edges, hinting at the activity within."

Thousands and thousands of stars have been given birth in this region. This is made plain when examining Webb’s recent Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) image. In MIRI’s view, the majority of the stars appear missing. This is because many newly formed stars are no longer surrounded by enough dust to be detected in mid-infrared light. Instead, MIRI observes young stars that have not yet cast off their dusty cloaks. These are the crimson orbs toward the fringes of the pillars. In contrast, the blue stars that dot the scene are aging, which means they have shed most of their layers of gas and dust.

It can be known that the mid-infrared light excels at observing gas and dust in extreme detail. According to NASA, the densest areas of dust are the darkest shades of gray. The red region toward the top, which forms an uncanny V, like an owl with outstretched wings, is where the dust is diffuse and cooler.

How vast is this landscape?

"Trace the topmost pillar, landing on the bright red star jutting out of its lower edge like a broomstick. This star and its dusty shroud are larger than the size of our entire solar system," the research organisation informs.

It can be noted that NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has captured several images of the Pillars of Creation prior to this. Earlier on October 19, 2022, the telescope captured a star-filled portrait of Pillars of Creation.

About Pillars of Creation

The Pillars of Creation is set within the vast Eagle Nebula, which lies 6500 light-years away.