Javascript must be enabled to use AstroPix. Learn How!

Euclid’s view of the Cat’s Eye Nebula

Ensci_euclid20250319h_1024

ensci_euclid20250319h March 19th, 2025

Credit: ESA/Euclid/Euclid Consortium/NASA

This is a zoom-in of Euclid’s Deep Field North, showing the Cat’s Eye Nebula in the center of the image, around 3000 light-years away. Also known as NGC 6543, this nebula is a visual ‘fossil record’ of the dynamics and late evolution of a dying star. This dying star is shedding its outer colorful shells.

Image processing by J.-C. Cuillandre, E. Bertin, G. Anselmi

Provider: Euclid

Image Source: https://euclid.caltech.edu/image/euclid20250319h-euclid-s-view-of-the-cat-s-eye-nebula

Curator: ESA/Euclid

Image Use Policy: CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO

View Options

Fullscreen

View in WorldWide Telescope

Download Options

Full Size Image (15136 x 15224)
Source JPEG (98.7 MB)

Image Details

Image Type: Observation
Object Name: Cat's Eye Nebula • NGC 6543
Subject - Milky Way: Nebula > Type > Planetary

Distance

Universescale1

3,300 light years

Ensci_euclid20250319h_128

Position Details

Position (ICRS): RA = 17h 58m 33.7s; DEC = 66° 38’ 0.1”
Orientation: North is 90.4° CCW
Field of View: 25.2 x 25.2 arcminutes
Constellation: Draco

Color Mapping

	Telescope	Spectral Band	Wavelength
	Euclid (Vis)	Optical	700.0 nm
	Euclid (NISP)	Infrared	1.1 µm
	Euclid (NISP)	Infrared	1.7 µm

Spectrum_base

Blue

Green

Red

Ensci_euclid20250319h_1280

×

ID: euclid20250319h
Subject Category: B.4.1.3.
Subject Name: Cat's Eye Nebula, NGC 6543
Credits: ESA/Euclid/Euclid Consortium/NASA

Release Date: 2025-03-19
Lightyears: 3,300
Redshift: 3,300
Reference Url: https://euclid.caltech.edu/image/euclid20250319h-euclid-s-view-of-the-cat-s-eye-nebula

Type: Observation
Image Quality: Good
Distance Notes

Facility: Euclid, Euclid, Euclid
Instrument: Vis, NISP, NISP
Color Assignment: Blue, Green, Red

Band: Optical, Infrared, Infrared
Bandpass
Central Wavelength: 700, 1100, 1700

Start Time
Integration Time
Dataset ID
Notes

Coordinate Frame: ICRS
Equinox: J2000
Reference Value: 269.64029765855923, 66.633352207194548
Reference Dimension: 15136, 15136

Reference Pixel: 7568, 7656.2558139534885
Scale: -2.7753371272422697E-05, 2.7753371272422697E-05
Rotation: 90.42000000000021
Coordinate System Projection:: TAN

Quality: Full
FITS Header
Notes

Creator (Curator): ESA/Euclid
URL: /image/ensci/euclid20250319h
Name
Email

Telephone
Address
City
State/Province

Postal Code
Country
Rights: CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO

Publisher: Euclid NASA Science Center at IPAC (ENSCI)
Publisher ID: ensci
Resource ID

Resource URL: http://www.euclid.caltech.edu/rails/active_storage/blobs/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBclFHIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--4467974f3f3b09c34139429c85ffb74d7f9a5738/EWS-Q1-EDFN_NGC6543.jpg
Related Resources

Metadata Date: 2025-03-19T15:38:25Z
Metadata Version: 1.2

×

Detailed color mapping information coming soon...

×

Universescalefull

3,300 light years

Providers | Sign In

Nasa_partner

NASA’s Universe of Learning materials are based upon work supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award number NNX16AC65A to the Space Telescope Science Institute, working in partnership with Caltech/IPAC, Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The award is part of NASA’s Science Activation program, which strives to further enable NASA science experts and content into the learning environment more effectively and efficiently with learners of all ages.