Infrared Universe: Pillars in the Carina Nebula (HH 901)

Herbig Haro 901 is an immense pillar of gas and dust inside the Carina Nebula, a huge star-forming region in our galaxy. The pillar is several light-years tall and contains a few massive young stars. They shoot out powerful jets that emerge from the cloud. In some cases, the jets create bow-shock patterns similar to the effects of a ship plowing through the ocean. The Carina Nebula is approximately 7,500 light-years from Earth.

Optical: Colors emerge from the glow of different gases: oxygen (blue), hydrogen/nitrogen (green), and sulfur (red). Very few stars can be seen because the gas and dust block starlight.
Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble 20th Anniversary Team (STScI)

Infrared: Stars become visible and numerous.
Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble 20th Anniversary Team (STScI)

About the Infrared Universe Collection

The human eye can only see visible light, but objects give off a variety of wavelengths of light. To see an object as it truly exists, we would ideally look at its appearance through the full range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Telescopes show us objects as they appear emitting different energies of light, with each wavelength conveying unique information about the object. The Webb Space Telescope will study infrared light from celestial objects with much greater clarity and sensitivity than ever before. Explore the Infrared Universe. Adapted from Cool Cosmos by IPAC, with additional contributions from Bruno Merin and Miguel Merin (Pludo).