Unraveling The Majestic 'Pillars Of Destruction' In The Carina Nebula And The Causes (Video)

A team of researchers captured new images of Carina Nebula with its pillars known as "Pillars of Destruction." They used the Very Large Telescope's Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) instrument in Chile.

The findings of the research were published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. It was led by Anna Mcleod, a doctoral student at European Southern Observatory (ESO) and colleagues. The team gathered and collected data from the Carina Nebula, Pillars of Creation in the Eagle Nebula and another same region known as NGC 3603. They found a connection between the strong light generated by the nearby stars and the pillars, according to IFL Science.

Carina Nebula is also referred to as the Great Nebula in Carina. It is in the Carina-Sagittarius Arm and lies at approximately between 6,500 and 10,000 light years from Earth. It is one of the grandest diffuse nebulae in the skies.

In the research, the astronomers identified six pillars in the Carina Nebula. These are destroyed by means of photoevaporation, which is a process wherein the gas of the nebula is heated and pushed away.

Dr. Mcleod explained that by combining observations from various regions, they could identify the quantitative connection between the ionizing massive stars and their effect on the surrounding clouds. She further said that this is significant, as the effect of the massive stars is that they photoevaporated the clouds and shape them into pillar-like structures. They also know what photoevaporating effect is in terms of numbers, depending on the number of massive stars that are acting on the regions.

Science Daily reports that this is just like a cosmic calamity. The pillars might look heavy. On the other hand, the clouds of dust and gas are thin. The researchers are trying to figure out more of the Pillars of Destruction and these celestial structures using the MUSE instrument.