APOD 4.4

This is a photo of the Carina nebula. Newly formed stars are spreading the interstellar dust from energetic light and winds that are formed when the stars are formed. These pillars of dust are known as the Mystic Mountain.They are about 7500 light years away and the photo was taken by the Hubble space telescope.  They are composed mainly of hydrogen gas. Despite their appearance these mountains are thinner than air. Within a few million years the dusty mountains will be spread once again.