On April 1, 1995, the Hubble Space Telescope captured an image of the Eagle Nebula (M16) that would become one of the best known photos in astronomy. Showing towering columns, up to 4 light-years tall, of star-forming hydrogen gas and dust, the photo was titled “Pillars of Creation” and quickly spread beyond astronomy circles and into popular culture. It has since featured on postage stamps, posters, TV shows, and much more.
The image was captured by astronomers Jeff Hester and Paul Scowen of Arizona State University, using Hubble’s Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2. Hester and Scowen pieced together 32 shots to create the final image, removing visual artifacts and adding color. In addition to giving us a glimpse into what our solar system likely looked like some 4.5 billion years ago, “Pillars of Creation” also helped rejuvenate interest in the Hubble after its disastrous start and subsequent repairs in December 1993.
