1. How big is the largest globule?

The largest of the globules in this image is actually two separate clouds that gently overlap along our line of sight. Each cloud is nearly 1.4 light-years along its longest dimension. Collectively, the clouds contain enough material to make more than 15 stars like our Sun.

2. What does Hubble's view reveal to astronomers?

Thanks to the remarkable resolution offered by the Hubble telescope, astronomers can, for the first time, study the intricate structure of these globules. The globules appear to be fragmented, as if in the process of being torn apart. When radio astronomers observed the faint hiss from molecules within the globules, they realized that the globules are actually in constant, churning motion, moving supersonically among each other. This chaotic motion may be caused by the powerful ultraviolet radiation from the luminous, massive stars. These stars also heat the glowing hydrogen gas, causing it to expand against the globules, leading to their eventual destruction. Despite their serene appearance, the globules may actually be likened to clumps of butter on a red-hot pan.