Hubble and Webb Telescopes Reveal the Vanishing Cat's Head Nebula in Three Distinct Views
The Cat's Head Nebula, a star-forming region within the Carina Nebula located 7,500 light-years from Earth, has been captured in three distinct views by the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes. Released by the European Space Agency (ESA) on October 29, 2026, these images highlight the nebula's feline shape, which is sculpted by ultraviolet radiation from massive nearby stars. While Hubble’s visible-light image shows a dark dust pillar with a glowing 'eye,' Webb’s near-infrared view reveals embedded stars and internal structures, and its mid-infrared view exposes polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and an unexplained bright spot. The images illustrate the active process of star formation and the eventual erosion of the nebula by stellar winds.