Cat's Paw Nebula
Also known as NGC 6334
Cat's Paw Nebula is a supernova remnant in the constellation Scorpius, about 5,350 light-years from Earth.
Star-forming nebula in Scorpius
Facts
| Type | Supernova remnant |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Scorpius |
| Position (J2000) | 17h 20m 49s, −36° 06′ |
| Distance | 5,350 light-years (its light set off about 5,350 years ago) |
| Size on the sky | 9.2′ × 9.2′ (the full Moon is about 31′) |
| Filter | OIII filter (Planetary nebulae and supernova remnants shine mostly in the green light of doubly ionised oxygen: an OIII filter passes it and darkens the sky around it.) |
| Studied in | 747 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
Cat's Paw Nebula is highest in the sky at midnight in June. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 34° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 4°.
Heights are worked out for India and for 50° N. Set your location in Settings to see them for where you are.
For tonight's best time from your own town, the darkness and the Moon, open it on the map and see its "Tonight from your location" card.
More in Scorpius
- Butterfly Cluster (M6)
- Butterfly Nebula
- Fried Egg Nebula
- M4 (NGC 6121)
- M80 (NGC 6093)
- Prawn Nebula
- Ptolemy Cluster (M7)
- War and Peace Nebula
Everything in Scorpius · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits