... Garnering attention that could make even a movie star blush, thousands of people watched in awe as a quintessential icon of the space age was towed through the streets of Los Angeles. ... Also known as Barnard 33, the unusual shape was first discovered on a photographic plate in the late 1800s. Zodiacal Light and Milky Way . ... Located just next door, Alpha Centauri is the closest star system to the Sun. ... The Sun is at the upper right, a bright star against the background of the Milky Way. ...