Abstract

We have investigated the stellar and interstellar content of the distant star formation region IRAS 17591-2228 (WISE H II region GAL 007.47+0.06). It is associated with a water maser, whose parallax distance is d = 20.4-+2.22.8 kpc, supported by independent measurements of proper motion and radial velocity. It is projected in the same direction as an extremely red (J−KS ∼ 6 mag) group of stars, and a shell of mid-infrared emission. We qualify the group of stars as a cluster candidate, VVV CL177. Its radius spans between 0 45 and 1′ and contains at least two young stellar objects with an extreme extinction near AV ~ 40 mag. Yet more analysis will be required to determine if it is a real single cluster associated with the water maser. The 13CO emissions at the radial velocity of the maser corresponds to the mid-infrared emission.