The Pillars of Creation: 3D Volumetric Visualizations Based on Hubble and Webb Imagery

Presentation theme: fulldome

The Pillars of Creation in the Eagle Nebula was one of the first Hubble images to gain iconic status amongst the public. That dazzling 1994 WFPC2 image was followed up by an even more spectacular 2014 WFC3 version that provided a wider field, higher resolution, and a few subtle changes over the two-decade timespan. More recently, Webb has turned its keen infrared gaze upon the pillars, resulting in yet another incredible view with intriguing multiwavelength contrasts. 

The AstroViz Project now tackles the considerable challenge of not only showcasing the striking comparison between visible and infrared observations of the pillars, but also to do so within a full three-dimensional volumetric model. We will present the underlying science, the computer graphics development, and the resulting visualization sequences as a prominent example of current best practices in astronomy visualization. The story that emerges is one concerning the connections and interplay between stars and dust within the pillars, within the Eagle Nebula, and, indeed, within the disk of the Milky Way Galaxy.