Hubble Retakes Iconic 'Pillars Of Creation' Image, Looks Even More Stunning Now

Hubble Improves On An Icon

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Hubble Telescope NASA decided to point the space telescope's lens on an icon.

Showing how far the orbital telescope has come, the team have retaken the iconic 'Pillars of Creation' image that was first captured in 1995.

Using the updated optics and sensors, the new image of the Eagle Nebula is as stunning as it first was in 1995, capturing the three huge columns of gas, bathed in the ultraviolet light of a cluster of stars.

It's the image that for many of us sparked our imaginations resulting in a lifelong love of outer space that Hubble has since satisfied with countless beautiful images.

The new picture captures both the nebula in increased resolution but also captures it -- for the first time -- in infrared light, showing the stars that had originally hidden behind the clouds of gas.

Close

What's Hot