Description:
NGC 6334, also known as the Cat's Paw Nebula, is a large and active star-forming region located in the constellation Scorpius, about 5,500 light-years from Earth. It spans around 50 light-years across and is one of the most massive stellar nurseries in our galaxy.
The nebula gets its nickname because of its distinctive shape that resembles a cat's paw, with glowing red patches that look like toe pads. These bright red areas come from ionized hydrogen gas (H II regions) energized by the intense ultraviolet radiation from young, hot stars embedded within the clouds.