5 publishers · first seen Tue, 27 Oct 2026 13:17 UTC · updated Mon, 02 Nov 2026 03:07 UTC
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has released new mid-infrared images of the Cat's Head Nebula, a star-sculpted gas and dust column resembling a feline head, located 7,500 light-years from Earth in the Carina Nebula. The nebula's red eye, a young star embedded within the dust, is visible in the images. The distinctive cat's head shape is likely the result of intense ultraviolet radiation and winds from massive stars in the Carina Nebula. The nebula's appearance will change over time as the stars in the Carina Nebula continue to form, grow, and evolve.
The Cat's Head Nebula has been captured in three different views: a visible light image by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, a mid-infrared image by the James Webb Space Telescope, and a near-infrared view by the James Webb Space Telescope. These images provide new insights into the nebula's structure and composition, showcasing the power of different wavelengths and instruments in studying celestial objects.
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