The Pillars of Creation

Wrinkle free
Okay, we've gotten rid of those unsightly lines. But remember, this image only shows light originating from doubly ionized oxygen atoms.

Let's have a look at similarly processed images taken in the light of hydrogen atoms and sulfur ions. As you go through the images, notice the subtle differences between them. Comparing the light coming from different types of atoms is what allows us to turn what otherwise might be just a pretty picture into detailed knowledge of the physical conditions from region to region within the nebula. More on that in a minute.