from US$22.21
Japan, Ogasawara
Stargazing Tour - Observe the best starry sky in Japan, Ogasawara!
Explore
Quiet Stargazing
Cat's Paw Image 1
Explore the profound quiet of the universe through NASA's high-resolution archives. Perfect for your stargazing journey.
Celestial Log
NASA Observation
The Cat's Paw Nebula, imaged here by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, lies inside the Milky Way Galaxy and is located in the constellation Scorpius. Its distance from Earth is estimated to be between 1.3 kiloparsecs (about 4,200 light years) to 1.7 kiloparsecs (about 5,500 light years). The bright, cloudlike band running left to right across the image shows the presence of gas and dust that can collapse to form new stars. The black filaments running through the nebula are particularly dense regions of gas and dust. The entire star-forming region is thought to be between 24 and 27 parsecs (80-90 light years) across. The stars that form inside the nebula heat up the pressurized gas surrounding them, such that the gas may expand and form "bubbles", which appear red in this image. Asymmetric bubbles may "burst," creating U-shaped features. The green areas show regions where radiation from hot stars collided with large molecules and small dust grains called "polycyclic aromatic hydocarbons" (PAHs), causing them to fluoresce. This image was compiled using data from two Spitzer instruments, the Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) and the Multiband Imaging Photometer (MIPS). The colors correspond with wavelengths of 3.6 microns (blue), 4.5 microns (cyan), 8 microns (green) and 24 microns (red). https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA22568
Expedition
Experience the serenity of the cosmos
Discover nebula-themed journey sites designed for peaceful observation.
New Zealand
Small-Group Refined Experience - Stargazing English Tour in Tekapo | New Zealand
ExploreHawaii
Hawaii Big Island: Mauna Kea Stargazing Half-Day Tour with Transfer Service in Waikoloa, Kona, and Hilo
Explore
Knowledge Base
Stargazer FAQ
Are the colors in this nebula image real?
NASA often uses 'false color' techniques. Scientists map invisible wavelengths (like infrared) or specific gases to visible colors (red, green, blue) to highlight the nebula's structural details.
Can I see this nebula with a standard telescope?
While some bright nebulas are visible with entry-level telescopes, capturing these stunning details usually requires deep-sky astrophotography equipment and long exposures.