A Quick Look at the Eagle Nebula (M16)
(Credit: NASA/CXC/A. Hobart)
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New stars form in clusters containing large amounts of dust and gas, including structures like the Pillars of Creation.

A newly forming star is located near the tip of the largest Pillar.

The atmospheres of young stars produce X-ray emission, and disks of dust and gas surrounding many of them produce infrared light.

Astronomers combine X-ray and infrared data to study the behavior of young stars.

X-ray activity in young stars with disks is, on average, a few times less intense that in young stars without disks.