The War and Peace Nebula

NGC 6357 is an emission nebula located about 8000 light-years away from Earth towards the constellation of Scorpius (the Scorpion). Images obtained in the mid-infrared led to its evocative name, the War and Peace Nebula, because at these wavelengths the northwest part has reminded observers of a dove, while the eastern part vaguely resembles a human skull. In visible light, as in our image, its nickname, the Lobster nebula, seems more fitting.

Covering a 400 light-year-wide area of the sky, this large, diffuse nebula accommodates an open cluster of stars called Pismis 24, which is home to some of the most massive stars ever discovered, with some exceeding 100 solar masses! Close to this region, huge pillars made of dust and gas yield a large number of proto-stellar clouds, the precursors to stars. The intense ultraviolet radiation from the Pismis 24’s blazing newborn stars heats up the gas surrounding the cluster and makes the whole region glow red. Interstellar winds, powerful radiation and gravity carve the dusty veils of gas into beautiful shapes.