NASA telescopes capture the Cat's Head Nebula in multiple wavelengths

NASA reported on Thursday 29 October 2026 that the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes captured a star-forming scene within the Carina Nebula. The Cat's Head Nebula lies about 7,500 light-years from Earth. The small region is nicknamed for its resemblance to a cat sitting with its back toward the viewer.

Hubble's visible-light image showed an opaque, dark brown pillar of dust edged by a luminous rim of gas. The cat's glowing red eye may indicate a young star that remains partly embedded in dust. Hubble also captured light emitted by oxygen, hydrogen and sulfur, along with starlight scattered by dust.

Webb's near-infrared view revealed detailed surface structures within the filament and a dense scattering of stars. Some stars remained enshrouded in dust to varying degrees. Faint background galaxies were also visible, offering a partial view through the Milky Way galaxy and beyond.

Webb's mid-infrared image showed intricate structures traced by emissions from warm dust and carbon-based molecules excited by starlight. Delicate globules and strands appeared to the left of the pillar. A bright source to the right was likely an infant star embedded in dust against reddish emission from surrounding material.

NASA said intense ultraviolet radiation and winds from massive stars likely sculpted the cat's head shape over time. Denser material resisted erosion as surrounding gas and dust dissipated. The bright rim was consistent with gas illuminated and ionized by nearby massive stars, a process called photoevaporation.

NASA said Hubble and Webb's complementary observations were helping astronomers study the complex process of star formation. Goddard Space Flight Center manages Hubble and mission operations in Greenbelt, Maryland. Webb is an international program led by NASA with ESA and the Canadian Space Agency.