Webb and Hubble unite: a breathtaking 3D journey through the pillars of creation

NASAThe new 3D visualization of the “Pillars of Creation” combines data from the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes to provide an immersive experience inside these iconic star clouds.

The breathtaking new visualization allows viewers to explore fundamental questions in science, experience how science is done, and discover the universe itself.

A team from NASA’s Universe of Learning at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland produced the stunning new 3D visualization of the Eagle Nebula’s towering “Pillars of Creation” by combining data from NASA’s Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes. This is the most comprehensive, detailed, multiwavelength movie yet of these iconic star-bearing clouds.

Pillars of creation shine in new visualization from NASA’s Hubble and Webb telescopes

Made famous in 1995 by NASA Hubble Space Telescopethe Pillars of Creation at the heart of the Eagle Nebula have captured the imagination of the world with their poignant, ethereal beauty.

Now NASA has released a new 3D visualization of these towering celestial structures using data from NASA’s Hubble and James Webb space telescopes. This is the most comprehensive and detailed multi-wavelength film yet of these star-forming clouds.

Insights from multiple wavelengths

“By flying past and between the pillars, viewers experience their three-dimensional structure and see how they look different in the Hubble visible-light view versus the Webb infrared-light view,” explained lead visualization scientist Frank Summers of the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, who led the movie development team for NASA’s Universe of Learning. “The contrast helps them understand why we have more than one space telescope to observe different aspects of the same object.”

The Four Pillars of Creation, composed primarily of cool molecular hydrogen and dust, are being eroded by the fierce winds and destructive ultraviolet light from nearby hot, young stars. Finger-like structures larger than the solar system protrude from the tops of the pillars. These fingers may contain embryonic stars. The tallest pillar extends over three light-years, three-quarters of the distance between our sun and the nearest star.

Observational data and scientific accuracy

The film takes visitors inside the three-dimensional structures of the pillars. Rather than an artistic interpretation, the video is based on observational data from a scientific paper led by Anna McLeod, a senior lecturer at Durham University in the United Kingdom. McLeod also served as a scientific advisor on the film project.

“The Pillars of Creation were always in the back of our minds to create in 3D. Webb data combined with Hubble data allowed us to see the Pillars in more detail,” said STScI production manager Greg Bacon. “Understanding the science and how to best represent it allowed our small, talented team to rise to the challenge of visualizing this iconic structure.”

Observations and understanding of multiple wavelengths

The new visualization helps viewers experience how two of the world’s most powerful space telescopes work together to provide a more complex, holistic portrait of the pillars. Hubble sees objects glowing in visible light, at thousands of degrees. Webb’s infrared vision, sensitive to cooler objects with temperatures of just hundreds of degrees, penetrates obscuring dust to see stars embedded in the pillars.

“When we combine observations from NASA space telescopes across different wavelengths of light, we broaden our understanding of the universe,” said Mark Clampin, director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “The Pillars of Creation region continues to provide us with new insights that sharpen our understanding of how stars form. With this new visualization, everyone can now experience this rich, compelling landscape in a new way.”

Bringing space exploration to public education

Produced for NASA by STScI with partners at Caltech/IPAC, and developed by NASA’s Universe of Learning’s 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 an audience of young people, families, and lifelong learners. It allows viewers to explore fundamental questions in science, experience how science is done, and explore the universe itself.

New developments and educational tools

Several stages of star formation are highlighted in the visualization. As viewers approach the central pillar, they will see an embedded, young protostar at the top, gleaming bright red in infrared light. Near the top of the left pillar is a diagonal jet of material ejected from a newborn star. Although the jet is evidence of star birth, viewers cannot see the star itself. Finally, at the tip of one of the left pillar’s protruding “fingers” is a flaming, brand-new star.

Expanding public involvement in astronomy

A bonus product of this visualization is a new 3D printable model of the Pillars of Creation. The base model of the four pillars used in the visualization has been adapted to the STL file format, allowing viewers to download the model file and print it on 3D printers. Exploring the structure of the pillars in this tangible and interactive way adds new perspectives and insights to the overall experience.

Conclusion: Continuous education and exploration

More visualizations and connections between the science of nebulae and students can be explored through other products produced by NASA’s Universe of Learning, such as ViewSpace, a video exhibit currently on display in nearly 200 museums and planetariums across the United States. Visitors can go beyond video and explore the images produced by space telescopes with interactive tools now available to museums and planetariums.

NASA’s Universe of Learning materials are based upon work supported by NASA under award number NNX16AC65A at the Space Telescope Science Institute, in collaboration with Caltech/IPAC, Pasadena, Calif., Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, Cambridge, Mass., and Jet Propulsion Laboratory, La Cañada Flintridge, Calif.

The Hubble Space Telescope, launched in 1990, is one of the most important instruments in the history of astronomy. Orbiting the Earth at an altitude of about 547 kilometers, Hubble has revolutionized our understanding of the universe with its extraordinarily clear and deep view of the cosmos, unobstructed by Earth’s atmosphere. Over the past decades, it has provided valuable data and stunning images that have led to major discoveries in several areas of astrophysics, including the expansion rate of the universe, the presence of dark matter and the properties of exoplanets. Unlike ground-based telescopes, Hubble can capture high-resolution images in ultraviolet, visible and near-infrared light, providing a comprehensive view of celestial bodies and phenomena that have transformed both scientific knowledge and public interest in space exploration.

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), launching on Dec. 25, 2021, represents the next great leap in space observatories. Located nearly 1.5 million kilometers (900,000 miles) from Earth, Webb is designed to observe the universe primarily in the infrared spectrum, allowing it to peer further back in time than ever before, to just beyond the Big BangThis capability will allow astronomers to study the formation of the first galaxies, stars, and planetary systems. Webb’s suite of advanced instruments and larger primary mirror provide unprecedented resolution and sensitivity compared to its predecessor, the Hubble Space Telescope, making it ideal for exploring the atmospheres of exoplanets and detecting signs of possible life. The telescope’s unique position at the second Lagrange point (L2) shields it from the light and heat of the Sun and Earth, allowing it to observe the cosmos with minimal interference.

NASA’s Universe of Learning is an integrated astronomy learning and education program that provides resources and experiences to help the public understand the universe while connecting them to the science and technology of NASA’s astrophysics missions. Through partnerships between NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, the Space Telescope Science Institute, IPAC/Caltech, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, this program offers a wide range of materials, including visualizations, interactive simulations, and educational activities. These resources are designed to engage students of all ages in the process of scientific discovery, inspire the next generation of astronomers, and increase public understanding of the universe.