Stretching roughly 4 to 5 light-years, the Pillars of Creation are a fascinating but relatively
small feature of the entire Eagle Nebula, which spans 70 by 55 light-years. The nebula, discovered
in 1745 by the Swiss astronomer Jean-Philippe Loys de Chéseaux, is located 7,000 light-years
from Earth in the constellation Serpens. With an apparent magnitude of 6, the Eagle Nebula can
be spotted through a small telescope and is best viewed during July. A large telescope and
optimal viewing conditions are necessary to resolve the Pillars of Creation.