A Mystery of Space: S T A R S- [Embryonic Star Clouds] U12

Galaxy M16 is an enormous column of cool hydrogen gas and dust. The finger-like pillars of the main structure are called EGGs, or Evaporating Gaseous Globules. These are formed by ultraviolet light emitter by nearby hot stars, which eats away at the pillar. The EGGs' are more dense, and are the site of embryonic stars, so they erode slower, and are left sticking out from the main structure. One EGG is about the size of our solar system.

(you might be interested to know that part of this picture was used in our Celestial Navigator bar background (left hand side))