VISTA’s infrared view of the Cat’s Paw Nebula*

Infrared view of the Cat’s Paw Nebula (NGC 6334) taken by VISTA. NGC 6334 is a vast region of star formation about 5500 light-years from Earth in the constellation of Scorpius. The whole gas cloud is about 50 light-years across. NGC 6334 is one of the most active nurseries of young massive stars in our galaxy, some nearly ten times the mass of our Sun and most born in the last few million years. The images were taken through Y, J and Ks filters (shown as blue, green and red respectively) and the exposure time was five minutes per filter. The field of view is about one degree across.

 

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#L

Credit:

ESO/J. Emerson/VISTA
Acknowledgment: Cambridge Astronomical Survey Unit

About the Image

Id:eso1017a
Type:Observation
Release date:21 April 2010, 12:00
Related releases:eso1017
Size:12502 x 12502 px

About the Object

Name:Cat's Paw Nebula, NGC 6334
Type:Milky Way : Nebula : Type : Star Formation
Distance:5500 light years
Constellation:Scorpius
Category:Nebulae

Mounted Image

Image Formats

Large JPEG
60.9 MB
Screensize JPEG
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Coordinates

Position (RA):17 19 58.02
Position (Dec):-35° 57' 47.06"
Field of view:71.04 x 71.04 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 31.3° right of vertical