How to photograph the Cat’s Paw Nebula (NGC 6334)
Red glowing pads of hydrogen in the tail of Scorpius.
Photo byNASA and the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI)(Public domain)
When to shoot it from your location
About the Cat’s Paw Nebula
The Cat’s Paw sits next to the Lobster Nebula (NGC 6357), and the two fit together at 300mm. Both are low for northern observers and well placed from the south.
Gear and framing
The Cat’s Paw Nebula spans about 40′ of sky. It frames best with:
- Telephoto (85-300mm lens)
- Small refractor (250-600mm)
You can see how other people have built their rigs on RigDesigner, including my Sony a6700 and 60mm refractor rig.
Filters
This target glows in hydrogen-alpha and oxygen-III light. A dual-band filter, or separate narrowband filters with a mono camera, lets that light through and blocks most light pollution and moonlight. It is a good choice for city skies and for nights with the Moon up.
Tips
- Frame it with the Lobster Nebula at 250-400mm.
Processing
Stack your light frames with darks and flats, then remove the background gradient before stretching. AstroBake does all of this for you. Point it at your folders of raw frames, then adjust the result with live sliders.