NGC 6334, commonly known as the Cat’s Paw Nebula, is a prominent emission nebula located approximately 5,500 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius. Spanning about 50 light-years across, this active star-forming region is rich in ionized hydrogen gas, which glows brightly in red hues due to the intense radiation from young, massive stars embedded within it.

Altogether, these regions illustrate a multi-generational star-forming complex, with simultaneous processes of protostellar collapse, ionization, outflows, and cluster development occurring side by side. NGC 6334 is often compared in complexity and richness to other major star-forming regions like the Orion Nebula or Carina Nebula, albeit more obscured.