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 and the Madokami Nebula by some fans of the Japanese anime Madoka Magica due to its resemblance to the main character from the anime, and a popular fan petition to rename it. This nebula was also 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. It is located about 8,000 light years away from Earth.

Telescope: Astro Physics 305 Riccardi Honders Astrograph f3.8
Mount: Astro Physics 3600GTO “El Capitan”
Camera: FLI ML50100 / CFW10-7
Guider: Mini Borg 50 / SBIG STi

H-alpha: 18×20 mins = 360 mins

Total Imaging Time: 6h 00m

Data Imaged remotely over 8 nights during June & July 2017.
Data acquisition & Processing by David Churchill.

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