It turns out you've been looking at the Eagle Nebula, aka the "Pillars of Creation," all wrong. But don't worry: the European Space Agency is here to get you on the right path.
Thanks to the Very Large Telescope in Chile, ESA has some new insight into the structure. That includes the fact that the tallest of the pillars, in the rear, is a staggering four light years across.
As the 3D image demonstrates, you're not really looking at one structure here but a series of clouds in the nebula, with some regions overlapping in weirder configurations than scientists had previously thought. By understanding this structure, the ESA team is giving greater insight into the inner workings of the nebula, which is in the process of birthing stars. It's also giving ESA the opportunity to measure when the process might be complete and the Eagle Nebula will be no more. That happens about three million years from now, so enjoy the cosmic beauty while it lasts.
