NGC 6357

NGC 6357 is a H II Region diffuse nebula near NGC 6334 in the constellation Scorpius. The nebula contains many proto stars that are protected by dark discs of gas. It also contains young stars wrapped in expanding "cocoons" or expanding gases surrounding these small stars. The nebula is also known as the Lobster Nebula. It was given the name War and Peace Nebula by the Midcourse Space Experiment scientists because of its look. In infrared images the bright, western part looks like a dove and the eastern part looks like a skull. Anime fans tried to get NASA  to rename it as the Madokami nebula because it was like a character from the Madokami anime, The name was not changed.

 Distance 
The nebula is about 5,500 light years from Earth.

 Associated open clusters 

 Pismis 24 

 G353.2+0.7 
The young stellar cluster G353.2+0.7 lies at the east of Pismis 24. It was revealed by a Chandra X-ray image showing about 800 stars.

 G353.1+0.6 
The young stellar cluster G353.1+0.6 lies at the southeast of Pismis 24. It has about 800 stars that were detected by X-ray. The region includes many O-type stars, including [BDSB2003] 10.

 References 

Category:Nebulae