The images of the Pillars of Creation, taken by the Hubble ST April 2, 1995, are considered one of the top 10 most beautiful images Hubble has given us.  It’s easy to see why.

NASA/ESA - Hubble ST

One of the most famous images of modern times.

But – wait.  Some scientists think we’re looking at a ghost.  They think the Pillars were destroyed 6,000 years ago by a nearby supernova.  Since the Pillars are about 7,000 light years away from us, we won’t know for sure for another 1,000 years.

So… how do they know?  Looking at the Pillars through Spitzer’s infrared eyes, six out of seven color images are almost identical.  The seventh image, at 24 microns, is red when it should be blue-green.  Scientists think that the leading edge of a shock wave is what caused the dust and gas in the Pillars to glow red-hot.  A massive shock wave.  The type of shock wave you get when a star goes supernova.

The supernova responsible was probably seen from the Earth one or two thousand years ago.  If so, we’ll see the Pillars torn apart by the slower moving shock wave in another 1,000 years.

Science has always known the Pillars were in danger of being destroyed by a close supernova.  In fact, they had several “candidates” lined up like suspects in a police investigation.  It looks like the “crime” may have already occurred.  Well before the pyramids were built.

Found on PhotoBucket - Very nice enlargement

But, remember;  while we’re watching this “happen” now, it really happened over 6,000 years ago.  And we still have another 1,000 years to go before we see the shock wave fully slam into the Pillars.

When the Pillars do fall, our descendants will get to see all the brand-new baby stars that have been forming inside the Nebula.  Also, you know what happens when a big cloud of dust and gas gets slammed around by a supernova shock wave, right?  Yep… more brand-new baby stars.  And solar systems.  And planets.

Image by Ophelia Joy

It’s the “great circle of life”; writ large.

Still…