Hubble goes high-def to revisit the iconic "Pillars of Creation"

Hubble goes high-def to revisit the iconic 

"Pillars of Creation"

This NASA Hubble Space Telescope image, taken in near-infrared light, transforms the pillars into eerie, wispy silhouettes, which are seen against a background of myriad stars. The near-infrared light can penetrate much of the gas and dust, revealing stars behind the nebula as well as hidden away inside the pillars. Some of the gas and dust clouds are so dense that even the near-infrared light cannot penetrate them. New stars embedded in the tops of the pillars, however, are apparent as bright sources that are unseen in the visible image.

NASA/ESA/The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)