--- title: "A New James Webb Shot of the Pillars of Creation Is Dazzling our Tiny Brains" description: "The iconic Pillars of Creation, considered by many the quintessential image of space, has been re-imaged by the James Webb Space Telescope." date: "2022-10-20" modified: "2022-10-20" authors: - name: "Frank Landymore" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/flandymore" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/james-webb-pillars-of-creation" categories: - "James Webb Space Telescope" - "NASA" - "Space" tags: - "james webb space telescope" - "stars" - "the digest" --- # A New James Webb Shot of the Pillars of Creation Is Dazzling our Tiny Brains ![The iconic Pillars of Creation, considered by many the quintessential image of space, has been re-imaged by the James Webb Space Telescope.]() *\Image: NASA\* ## Revisiting an Icon NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has consistently astonished us with its amazing snapshots of the cosmos — and its latest image [released today by NASA]() is no exception. This time, using its Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam), the space observatory targeted the iconic Pillars of Creation. First photographed by the Hubble Space Telescope in 1995,[ the original image]() of the Pillars quickly became an object of fascination. To many, it remains the quintessential image of outer space. And we're pleased to say that it now has a worthy successor. Just have a look at the inscrutable detail and colors of the new and improved photo below. But, for maximum effect, we recommend [visiting here]() to download the image in its full resolution, if your device has room. https://twitter.com/nasawebb/status/1582736008260440066 ## Dense With Wonder The Pillars appear like the monolithic hand of a cosmic god being formed out of space dust. In reality, the image depicts something arguably just as fascinating: stars — some of them still being born — in the heart of the Eagle Nebula some 7,000 light years away. At four to five light years across in size, it's unfathomably large to Earthlings, but a relatively small feature of the Nebula as a whole. Still, there's plenty to behold. Take, for instance, the glowing red blobs at the boundaries of each "pillar." According to NASA's [press release](), those are the ejections of newly forming stars, which get their glowing red appearance from energetic hydrogen molecules. As for the reddish spiky orbs, those are the newly formed stars themselves, only a couple of hundred thousand years old. ## Scratching the Surface In general, you can see far more detail in the new image compared to the original, thanks to a massive bump in resolution. And that isn't just to the benefit of casual observers. The clearer, more detailed imaging allows scientists to more accurately identify and keep track of nascent stars, NASA says. And from there, they can better understand how stars are formed, as well as how frequently that occurs. It's an overwhelmingly dazzling image that demonstrates both the James Webb's groundbreaking capabilities and the astounding beauty of the cosmos that we're only beginning to uncover. **More on the James Webb:** *[James Webb Telescope Captures Stunning Starlight "Fingerprint"]()* ## Author At Futurism, my work has often centered on bringing a sense of clarity and insight to complex topics ranging from the regulation of emerging technologies to the esoteric ideologies of Silicon Valley executives, while striving not to lose the poetic sense of awe inspired by often-obscure fields like astrophysics and quantum computing. I broke the story of CNET using AI to produce articles that turned out to be riddled with factual errors and plagiarism — a dam-breaking inflection point, as I've reported, that's inspired copycats and endless discourse while beguiling stakeholders ranging from tech giants to purveyors of spam around the web. My work at Futurism has been cited by publications including CBS News, the Los Angeles Times, Vice, Gizmodo, Engadget, the Verge, and Vanity Fair. I grew up in locales ranging from India to China, and now live in the exotic suburbs of Virginia. In my free time, I'm an avid reader of weird sci-fi literature, an aficionado of East Asian cinema, and, regrettably, a relapsed gamer. Allegedly, I’m working on a debut novel, currently untitled. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()