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NGC 6334 and 6357

About this object

This wide field image covers several interesting objects in the Constellation Scorpius, NGC 6334, known as the Cat's Paw Nebula and NGC 6357. Both of these nebula are emission nebula and glow red because of an abundance of ionized hydrogen atoms. NGC 6334 is the red nebula near the right center part of the image. The Cats Paw nebula is approx. 5,500 light years distant and contains stars nearly 10 times the mass of the sun. NGC 6357 is the red nebula near the top of the image. This nebula is around 8,000 light years distant and is forming some the the most massive stars known. The central star in this nebula is 200 times the mass of the sun. This region lies in the far southern Milky Way as seen from the Northern Hemisphere.

Image Details

  • Optics : Canon 70-200mm f4 L lens at 200mm f5.6
  • Mount: Astrotrac
  • Camera: Canon 60Da
  • Filters: None
  • Exposure: (18) 3 min exposures at ISO 3200
  • Camera/Mount Control: Interval Timer
  • Location: Stellarvue Deep Sky Party, Likely CA
  • Date: June 12
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