Telescope : Planewave CDK 17 F6.8
Camera : SBIG STXL 11002
Mount: Software Bisque Paramount ME
Pixel scale : 0.63 arcsec/pixel
FOV : 42 x 29 arcmins
Filters : SHO & LRGB for star replacement
Integration: 33h30m
Sii 7h, Ha 10.5h Oiii 11.5h
L 3h, RGB 0.5h each
RA center: 17h 25′ 00″
DEC center: -34° 15′ 28″
Equipment : Martin Pugh
Observatory : El Sauce Chile
Software: PixInsight & Photoshop
NGC 6357 is a diffuse nebula near NGC 6334 in the constellation Scorpius. The nebula contains many proton-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 5,500 light years away from Earth.