In the beginning

Look: New telescope image captures towering star nursery in terrific detail

One of our closest nebula neighbors gets a stunning new portrait.

by Jennifer Walter
Dark pillar of dust rising in space with stars all around. Portrait of the cone nebula
ESO

ESO/L.Calçada, ESO/Digitized Sky Survey 2. Acknowledgement: D. De Martin. Music: Azul Cobalto

Less than 2,500 light years from Earth, a great pillar of dust towers in the darkness of space, itself a birthplace for light.

Called the Cone Nebula, this dramatic, star-forming region has been observed by many telescopes over the years.
ESO/Digitized Sky Survey 2. Acknowledgement: D. De Martin
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