For reasons unknown, NGC 6357 is forming some of the most massive stars ever
discovered. One such massive star, near the center of NGC 6357, is framed above carving out
its own interstellar castle with its energetic light from surrounding gas and
dust. In the greater nebula, the intricate patterns
are caused by complex
interactions between interstellar
winds, radiation
pressures, magnetic
fields, and gravity. The overall glow
of the nebula results from the emission of
light from ionized
hydrogen gas. Near the more
obvious Cat's Paw nebula, NGC 6357 houses the open
star cluster Pismis
24, home to many of these tremendously bright and blue stars. The central
part of NGC 6357
shown spans about 10 light years and lies about 8,000 light years
away toward the constellation of the Scorpion
.
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