NGC 6357

NGC 6357
Emission nebula
H II region
NGC 6357 composite image
Observation data: J2000 epoch
Right ascension17h 24m [1]
Declination−34° 20′[1]
Distance~5900±450[2] ly   (1800±140 pc)
ConstellationScorpius[3]
DesignationsWar and Peace Nebula,[1] Lobster Nebula [4] Sharpless 11, RCW 131, Gum 66, Madokami
See also: Lists of nebulae

NGC 6357 is a diffuse nebula near NGC 6334 in the constellation Scorpius. The nebula contains many proto-stars shielded by dark discs of gas, and young stars wrapped in expanding "cocoons" or expanding gases surrounding these small stars. It is also known as the Lobster Nebula.[4][5] This nebula was given the name War and Peace Nebula by the Midcourse Space Experiment scientists because of its appearance, which, in infrared images the bright, western part resembles a dove, while the eastern part looks like a skull.[6] A petition by anime fans to rename it as the Madokami nebula, due to resemblance with a character, was unsuccessful.[7][8]

It is located about 5,500 light years away from Earth.[9]

  1. ^ a b c "NGC 6357". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2007-05-03.
  2. ^ Kuhn, Michael A.; Hillenbrand, Lynne A.; Sills, Alison; Feigelson, Eric D.; Getman, Konstantin V. (2018). "Kinematics in Young Star Clusters and Associations with Gaia DR2". The Astrophysical Journal. 870 (1): 32. arXiv:1807.02115. Bibcode:2019ApJ...870...32K. doi:10.3847/1538-4357/aaef8c. S2CID 119328315.
  3. ^ R. W. Sinnott, ed. (1988). The Complete New General Catalogue and Index Catalogue of Nebulae and Star Clusters by J. L. E. Dreyer. Sky Publishing Corporation and Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-933346-51-2.
  4. ^ a b Sample, Ian (20 February 2013). "Lobster Nebula – birthplace of stars – revealed in infrared". the Guardian.
  5. ^ "Lobster Nebula Seen with ESO's VISTA Telescope Space Wallpaper". Space.com. 25 February 2013.
  6. ^ "2MASS Picture of the Week Archive Captions".
  7. ^ "There Is A New Petition To Name A Nebula After "Ultimate Madoka"". crunchyroll.com.
  8. ^ "NGC 6357. The Lobster Nebula". astrodrudis.com.
  9. ^ "Winter Wonderland' Glows in Space as Nebula Is Wreathed in Wintry Colors". Space.com. 20 December 2016.