NASA and its international partners have unveiled stunning new images of the Cat’s Paw Nebula taken by the James Webb Space Telescope. Released on July 10, 2025, to mark the telescope’s third anniversary, the photos showcase never-before-seen details of this celestial wonder.
The NIRCam camera on board the Webb Space Telescope captured breathtaking images of the nebula, revealing massive young stars carving away at nearby gas and dust. The bright starlight from these stars produces a vibrant blue glow that dominates the scene.
However, as scientists observe the Cat’s Paw Nebula, they note that this lively behavior will eventually lead to the shutdown of local star formation processes. By studying this phenomenon, researchers gain valuable insights into the complex interactions between stars, gas, and dust in our universe.
The images were captured by a team effort from NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), and the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI).
Source: https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/nasas-james-webb-space-telescope-inspects-cats-paw