  We have investigated the stellar and interstellar content of the distant star
formation region IRAS 17591-2228 (WISE HII region GAL 007.47+0.06). It is
associated to a water maser, whose parallax distance is d=20.4^{+2.8} {-2.2}
kpc, supported by independent measurements of proper motion and radial
velocity. It is projected in the same direction as an extremely red (J-Ks ~ 6
mag) group of stars, and a shell of mid-infrared emission. We qualify the group
of stars as a cluster candidate, VVV CL177. Its radius spans between 0.45' and
1' and contains at least two young stellar objects with an extreme extinction
near Av ~ 40 mag. Yet more analysis will be required to determine is it is a
real single cluster associated with the water maser. The 13CO emissions at the
radial velocity of the maser corresponds to the mid-infrared emission.
