These one-light-year-tall pillars of cold hydrogen and dust are located 7,500 light-years away in the Carina Nebula. Violent stellar winds and powerful radiation from massive stars are sculpting the surrounding nebula. Inside the dense structures, new stars may be born.

This image is a composite of two images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope’s Advanced Camera for Surveys, one in July 2005 and one in February 2010. The 2005 observations captured light emitted by hydrogen atoms, which shows up here in blue and cyan. The 2010 image is of oxygen light, which appears yellow and gold.

The Carina Nebula is the subject of two of Hubble’s most famous portraits: the “Pillars of Creation” and the dramatic new image released for the space telescope’s 20th birthday.

Image: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Project (STScI/AURA)

See Also:

• Wow! Celebrate Hubble’s 20th With Best Space Image Ever
• Reader Photo Gallery: Your Desk Celebrates Hubble’s 20th Anniversary
• Hubble Captures Images of Rare Mammoth Stars
• Hubble Is Back! With New Stunning Images

Follow us on Twitter @astrolisa and @wiredscience, and on Facebook.

Authors: Lisa Grossman

to know more click here