NASA revisits iconic 'Pillars of Creation' shot for Hubble Telescope 25th anniversary

NASA

The Pillars of Creation, first taken in 1995, showed giant columns of cold gas in the Eagle Nebula which are in the process of creating new stars.

The shot, which featured dazzling ultraviolet light in the background, went on to appear on countless T-shirts, book covers and in movies.

Ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Hubble telescope being launched into space, NASA revisited the pillars to take new crystal clear pictures of it.

The images were taken with near-infrared and visible light which provides astronomers with a wider and more sharper view of the pillars.

NASA

We have caught these pillars at a very unique and short-lived moment in their evolution

Paul Scowen from Arizona State University

The pictures were unveiled at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Seattle.

Paul Scowen, of Arizona State University, said: "I'm impressed by how transitory these structures are.

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NASA revisits iconic 'Pillars of Creation' shot for Hubble Telescope 25th anniversary