This shimmering region of star-formation, a close-up of the Trifid Nebula about 5,000 light-years from Earth, was captured in intricate detail by NASAтАЩs┬аHubble Space Telescope in an image released on April 20, 2026. The colors in HubbleтАЩs visible light image, which marks the 36th anniversary of the missionтАЩs┬аlaunch┬аon April 24, are reminiscent of an underwater scene filled with fine-grained sediments fluttering through the oceanтАЩs depths.
Several massive stars, which are outside this field of view, have shaped this region for at least 300,000 years. Their powerful winds continue to blow an enormous bubble, a small portion of which is shown here, that pushes and compresses the cloudтАЩs gas and dust, triggering new waves of star formation.
Learn more about the Trifid Nebula.
Image credit: NASA, ESA, STScI; Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI)
