NASA has shared two views of a cloud nicknamed the Cat's Head Nebula. Observations from Hubble and Webb show part of the Carina Nebula, about 7,500 light-years from Earth. Gas and dust form a shape that resembles a cat looking to one side. A glowing feature looks like an eye. However, this familiar shape is temporary: forming stars will gradually change the surrounding material.
The telescopes detect different wavelengths of light, so their images provide information that works together. Astronomers use these views to investigate how stars develop inside dusty clouds. The apparent eye may be a young star hidden in the dust, rather than an empty hole. A striking picture can attract attention, but scientists must examine the evidence behind its appearance. The nickname describes what the cloud looks like, not what it contains.