Astronomers Capture Spectacular Image of the Cat-Shaped Nebula

The Smiling Cat Nebula, also known as Sh2-284, is a dynamic stellar nursery located about 15,000 light-years away in the constellation Monoceros. It contains a group of young stars called Dolidze 25, which are ionizing the surrounding hydrogen gas and dust with their powerful UV energy. The stars are also blowing away gas and dust, creating pillars and fingers of material. Dolidze 25 has the lowest known metallicity of any star-forming region in the Milky Way, and its stars are relatively young. As the stars age, they will disperse, and the gas in the nebula will dissipate. The low metallicity suggests that rocky planets may not form, making the existence of life unlikely. In millions of years, the region will look different, and the Smiling Cat Nebula will cease to exist.