Zooming into VISTA’s infrared view of the Cat’s Paw Nebula

In this zoom sequence we start with a spectacular wide-field view of the Milky Way galaxy, centred on the constellations of Scorpius and Sagittarius. As we close in on the Cat’s Paw nebula (NGC 6334) we shift to the view from the VISTA survey telescope, observing in the infrared part of the spectrum. The new telescope’s huge field of view allows it to image the whole nebula and its surroundings in a single picture and its infrared vision also means that it can peer deep into the normally hidden dusty regions and reveal the curious antics of the very active young stars buried there.