Abu Dhabi, UAE – July 2025 – UAE astronomers have captured a breathtaking celestial marvel—the Cat’s Paw Nebula, a glowing cloud of gas and dust larger than the full Moon in the night sky.
Photographed from Abu Dhabi’s desert after nearly 10 hours of painstaking observation, this nebula isn’t just a cosmic beauty—it’s also a birthplace for new stars.
Quick Facts
The Cat’s Paw Nebula
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Location
Scorpius constellation
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Size
Light takes 320 years to cross it (actual size); appears larger than the Moon in the sky
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Age
The light captured in 2025 was emitted 4,370 years ago
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Colours
Red (hydrogen gas) and blue (oxygen gas)
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Discovery Team
Al-Khatem Astronomical Observatory (Osama Ghanam, Anas Mohammed, Khalfan Al Nuaimi)
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Photography
Mohammed Odeh (imaging), Haitham Hamdi (processing)
A Cosmic Cat’s Paw in the UAE Sky
What Is the Cat’s Paw Nebula
The Cat’s Paw Nebula (NGC 6334) is an emission nebula—a vast cloud of ionized gas where new stars are born. Its name comes from its striking resemblance to a feline’s pawprint in space.
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Why does it glow
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Ultraviolet radiation from young stars energizes hydrogen and oxygen gases, making them emit light.
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Red regions = hydrogen (digital “pads” of the paw).
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Blue regions = oxygen (inner paw area).
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How Was It Captured
Capturing this nebula was extremely challenging due to
- Low altitude (only 30° above horizon) – More atmospheric distortion.
- Light pollution (Bortle 6 skies) – Required special filters
- Long exposure time (9.75 hours, 195 images) – Patience was key!
Equipment used
- Two telescopes (5-inch & 4-inch)
- Colour camera + light pollution filter
- Each image had a 3-minute exposure
Why This Discovery Matters
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A Rare & Difficult Capture
Few places on Earth can photograph this nebula clearly due to its low position in the sky.
UAE’s clear desert skies and advanced astrophotography techniques made this possible.
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A Star-Forming Factory
The nebula is actively birthing stars, helping scientists study stellar evolution.
Such nebulae are crucial for understanding how stars (like our Sun) form.
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UAE’s Growing Role in Astronomy
This discovery highlights the UAE’s emerging contributions to space science.
Follows other milestones like the Hope Probe to Mars and Al-Amal missions.
FAQs
Q: Can I see the Cat’s Paw Nebula with the naked eye?
A: No—it requires telescopes and long-exposure photography due to its faint glow.
Q: How far away is it?
A: About 5,500 light-years from Earth.
Q: Why is it red and blue?
A: Different gases emit different colours when energized—hydrogen glows red, oxygen glows blue.
Q: Will the UAE capture more such images?
A: Yes! UAE astronomers are expanding deep-sky observations, with more discoveries expected.
What’s Next for UAE Astronomy
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More deep-space imaging projects from Al-Khatem Observatory.
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Potential public stargazing events to showcase such discoveries.
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Further research into star-forming regions like the Cat’s Paw.
“The universe is full of wonders—this is just one paw-step in our journey.”
– Mohammed Odeh, Astrophotographer
Final Thought
This stunning discovery proves that even in the vastness of space, a little feline charm exists—and UAE astronomers are bringing it closer to us than ever before.
