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Press Release

Release No.: 2005-35For Release: Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Spitzer Captures Cosmic "Mountains of Creation"

Spitzer's infrared eyes yielded this spectacular image that astronomers have dubbed the "Mountains of Creation." The star-forming region W5 shown here resembles Hubble's famous "Pillars of Creation," but on a much larger scale. This cloud of cool gas and dust, shining red in this color-coded image, has been sculpted by radiation and winds from a hot, massive star above the field of view.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/L. Allen and J. Hora (CfA).
High Resolution Image (jpg)
Low Resolution Image (jpg)

Spitzer's "Mountains of Creation" shows a star-forming region approximately 10 times the size of Hubble's 1995 "Pillars of Creation." The latter is shown in the inset for scale. Hundreds of newborn stars shine through enveloping clouds of dust, revealing their presence through their infrared light.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/L. Allen and J. Hora (CfA)
High Resolution Image (jpg)
Low Resolution Image (jpg)

A visible-light image shows few signs of the curtains of material enveloping the W5 region. Also hidden are many of the newborn stars still swaddled in their natal cocoons. Spitzer's Infrared Array Camera, which was developed at CfA, revealed new wonders in this stellar birthplace.
Credit: California Institute of Technology's Digitized Sky Survey
Low Resolution Image (jpg)

A visible-light image (inset) shows few signs of the curtains of material enveloping the W5 region. Spitzer's infrared eyes revealed huge glowing clouds of cool gas and hundreds of newborn stars shining through their dusty surroundings.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/L. Allen and J. Hora (CfA)
Low Resolution Image (jpg)

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