"Cosmic Sea Slug" Appears in Hubble’s 36th Birthday Image

NASA is celebrating the 36th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope with a stunning new look at the Trifid Nebula, a star-forming region about 5,000 light-years away. Powerful ultraviolet light from massive stars has carved out this glowing bubble, triggering new waves of star birth.

First imaged in 1997, Hubble revisits this scene nearly 30 years later with sharper vision. The image reveals a structure nicknamed the “Cosmic Sea Slug,” including a jet from Herbig-Haro 399, showing how young stars actively shape their surroundings.

Bright stars, dark dust, and glowing gas tell the story of stars forming and evolving. Over time, the nebula will fade, leaving only stars behind. For 36 years, Hubble has transformed how we see the universe, and it’s not done yet.

Sit back and relax as Hubble Senior Project Scientist, Dr. Jennifer Wiseman takes us on a tour of this beautiful image.

For more information, visit https://nasa.gov/hubble.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Paul Morris: Lead Producer
Script: Claire Blome (STSci)
Narrator: Dr. Jennifer Wiseman

Music Credit:
"Hold Your Own" by Tommy Evans [PRS] via Ninja Tune Production Music [PRS] and Universal Production Music