The center of the Milky Way

The center of the Milky Way is located in the direction of the Sagittarius constellation, obscured by dense interstellar dust, making it difficult to observe in visible light. However, this region still hosts many spectacular deep-sky objects. The Rho Ophiuchi region at the border of Scorpius and Ophiuchus is particularly rich in nebulae and star clusters. M8 (the Lagoon Nebula) is a bright emission nebula containing numerous young stars, while M20 (the Trifid Nebula) is distinguished by dark dust lanes dividing it into three sections, displaying a unique blend of blue and red hues. M16 (the Eagle Nebula) is famous for its "Pillars of Creation" structure, where new stars are actively forming.

Additionally, M17 (the Omega Nebula) and M24 (the Small Sagittarius Star Cloud) are also prominent celestial objects in this region. The former is an active star-forming area, while the latter is a breathtaking star field within the Milky Way. Not far away is M22, a bright globular cluster suitable for small telescopes.

Sony35GM F1.4
Sony A7R
iOptron SkyTracker Pro
50x60s
Location: Zoigê County, Sichuan, China