March 4, 2026
1 min read
Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAm
NASA unveils dazzling new images of the ‘Cat’s Eye Nebula’
The space-based telescopes Hubble and Euclid combined forces to capture the vibrant remains of a dying star in stunning new detail
ESA/Hubble/NASA/ESA Euclid/Euclid Consortium/NASA/Q1-2025/J.-C. Cuillandre/E. Bertin/CEA Paris-Saclay/Z. Tsvetanov
In 1995 NASA published images captured by the then nearly five-year-old Hubble Space Telescope of what the agency described as “one of the most complex planetary nebulae ever seen.” The photographs showed a dying star, or perhaps even stars, cocooned in striking red and green clouds of gas—the so-called Cat’s Eye Nebula. And now, more than 30 years later and alongside the space telescope Euclid, Hubble has trained its eye back on the nebula, revealing it in even more stunning detail.
The images capture a wider view of the nebula, highlighting a ring of material radiating from its center. Incredibly, this “halo” was expelled from the system before the rest of the nebula formed.
The combined observations “reveal the remarkable complexity of stellar death in this object,” NASA said in a blog post.
On supporting science journalism
If you’re enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
The Hubble Space Telescope and the Euclid space telescope joined forces to produce this image of the Cat’s Eye Nebula.
ESA/Hubble/NASA/ESA Euclid/Euclid Consortium/NASA/Q1-2025/J.-C. Cuillandre/E. Bertin/CEA Paris-Saclay/Z. Tsvetanov
Some of the new Hubble observations show the Cat’s Eye Nebula, also known as NGC 6543, in the finest detail ever seen. The nebula lies some 4,400 light-years away from Earth.
Hubble’s new image of the Cat’s Eye Nebula.
ESA/Hubble/NASA/Z. Tsvetanov
“The data reveal a tapestry of concentric shells, jets of high-speed gas and dense knots sculpted by shock interactions, features that appear almost surreal in their intricacy,” NASA wrote.
The observations could offer clues to how nebulas like this one form. By examining the structure of the Cat’s Eye Nebula in detail, astronomers can trace back the history of the dying star at its center—essentially enabling them to read a “cosmic ‘fossil record’ of [the star’s] final evolutionary stages,” NASA said.
It’s Time to Stand Up for Science
If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.
I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.
If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.
In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can’t-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world’s best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.
There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.
