NASA reveals a cosmic cat with a glowing eye 7,500 light-years away
NASA has released new images of a distant star-forming region that bears a curious resemblance to a cat, complete with what appears to be a glowing eye.
The Cat's Head Nebula is tucked within the much larger Carina Nebula, about 7,500 light-years away from Earth. New images from the James Webb Space Telescope reveal the cosmic cat in infrared light, offering a different look than a visible-light image captured by the Hubble Space Telescope.
NASA said the region earned its nickname because it resembles a cat sitting with its back toward Earth.
"The 'head' of the cat is turned to the right, revealing a glowing eye," NASA said. "The cat's glowing red eye may indicate a young star that is still partially embedded in dust."
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope's mid-infrared view reveals intricate structures within the nebula, traced by the emission from warm dust and carbon-based molecules excited by starlight. (NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI))
Webb's ability to observe infrared light allows astronomers to peer through some of the dust that blocks Hubble's view. One Webb image reveals numerous stars scattered around and within the formation, along with faint galaxies much farther in the background.
Another Webb image highlights warm dust and intricate strands within the nebula.
The Cat's Head Nebula captured by the Hubble Space Telescope (left) and the James Webb Space Telescope (right). (NASA, ESA, STScI; Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI))
NASA said the different views from Hubble and Webb are helping astronomers study the complicated process of star formation.
The catlike shape itself was likely sculpted over time by intense ultraviolet radiation and winds from massive nearby stars. Denser areas of gas and dust have resisted that erosion, helping create the unusual outline visible today.
The Cat's Head is not a newly discovered standalone nebula. It is a nickname for a relatively small feature within the Carina Nebula, which French astronomer Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille first documented in 1752.
And like many familiar shapes spotted in clouds closer to home, this cosmic cat will not last forever.
NASA said the Cat's Head Nebula is a temporary scene that will eventually disperse as stars continue to form and evolve, meaning its feline appearance will someday fade away.
