NGC 2353 is very compact cluster of moderately bright stars in Monoceros, close to the Monoceros - Canis Major border, surrounded by a large region of emission nebulae. One of the brightest of these nebulae is visible above and to the left of the cluster. This is Sharpless 2-294. Below and to the right is IC 2177.
The brightest stars in the cluster are B and A type main sequence stars, with the brightest being the B1-type star SAO 152598. Being situated in the Milky Way, the surrounding region is rich in faint stars.