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Photo taken by the Hubble Space Telescope

This Hubble Space Telescope image shows light from hot stars eating away the surfaces of the clouds in this region to reveal the pillars composed of denser material.

Facts of interest about the image

Processes at work in the nebula, including star formation, are described and special areas of star formation are highlighted.

Description

This Hubble Space Telescope image shows light from hot stars eating away the surfaces of the dust and gas clouds in this region to reveal pillars composed of denser material. Includes information about this process, star formation, and the stars, dust, and gas in the nebula.

FORMATS AVAILABLE:

PDF

GRADES:

6-12, but the material can be adapted for use in other grades at the teacher's discretion

How to use in the classroom

Teachers can use this lithograph as:

An engagement tool in an inquiry-based lesson. Have students study the image side of the lithograph. Ask them to write down any questions they have about the image. When the students are finished, their questions can be used in a variety of ways:

Ask students to find the answers to their questions by reading the back of the lithograph and/or the related materials listed below.

Have students exchange papers so that each student has someone else's questions. Then have them find the answers to the other students' questions by reading the back of the lithograph and/or the related materials listed below.

Gather the questions into a list by asking students to volunteer to read their questions while you or another student records them on the board or overhead. Ask students to raise their hands if they had the same or a similar question. Count the number of hands raised and record this number next to the question. Once all the student questions have been added to the list, have students search for the answers to their questions in the text on the back of the lithograph. When they complete that task, ask them to decide if each of their questions was answered completely, answered partially, or not answered at all. Go through the original list and place an "A" in front of the questions that were answered completely, a "P" for those that were partially answered, and an "N" for those that were not answered at all. Determine if the most commonly asked questions were also completely answered. Encourage students to do further research to find answers to the unanswered questions.

A content reading tool. Have students read the back of the lithograph and then write a quiz for the class.

A component in a compare/contrast activity. Compare the features/structure of this nebula to those of the Eskimo Nebula found in the related materials below. A T-chart or Venn diagram would be a good organizational tool to use for this activity. Examples and a solution are included in the "Related resources" section.

Related materials

Lithograph: Eskimo Nebula

Graphic organizer: Comparison of the Eagle Nebula and the Eskimo Nebula

HubbleSite press release: “Embryonic Stars Emerge from Interstellar ‘Eggs’"

HubbleSite press release: "Hubble Reopens Its Eye on the Universe"

Amazing Space resources by topic: Stars and Stellar Evolution