This nebula is ready for its close-up! 5,000 light-years from Earth, stars are forming in the Trifid Nebula. Their powerful forces shape the clouds of dust and gas that surround them; astronomers study these clouds, and how quickly they change, to understand how stars develop over time. Our NASAHubble telescope captured this view of the Trifid Nebula. From its vantage point in low Earth orbit, Hubble has been observing the universe for 36 years. Image description: A rich, cosmic landscape is split in two. On the right side, clouds of reddish-black dust billow. On the left, stars sparkle across a dark-blue background. Credit: NASA, ESA, STScI; Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI) #NASA #Space #Nebula