Eli5: how do the pillars of creation just stay the same shape out in space for so long and how did it all accumulate in that area?

Question

Eli5: how do the pillars of creation just stay the same shape out in space for so long and how did it all accumulate in that area?

In: 7284

Answer 1

The pillars of creation are massive. Even if the clouds were to move at the speed of light we would not notice it unless we were observing it for a long time since the entire structure spans light years in size. We have been observing it for a long time to us, but the first telescope, let alone the first telescope able to clearly image the structure, up until now has been a drop in the ocean of how much time the pillars have had to formate