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Credit & Copyright: Greg
Bock, Courtesy
Southern
Astronomical Society
Explanation:
This breathtaking patch of sky would be above you were you to stand at the
south pole of the Earth.
Just above and to the right of the photograph's center are the four stars
that mark the boundaries of the famous
Southern Cross.
At the top of this constellation, also known as "The Crux,"
is the orange star
Gamma Crucis.
The band of stars, dust, and gas crossing the middle of the photograph is
part our
Milky Way Galaxy.
In the very center of the photograph is
the dark Coal Sack Nebula, and the bright nebula on the far right is the
Eta Carina Nebula.
The southern cross is so famous a constellation that it is depicted on the
Australian National Flag.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Southern Cross - Milky Way
Publications with words: Southern Cross - Milky Way
See also:
- APOD: 2024 November 24 Á Journey to the Center of the Galaxy
- APOD: 2024 November 5 Á Milky Way over Easter Island
- APOD: 2024 August 4 Á Gaia: Here Comes the Sun
- APOD: 2024 July 29 Á Milky Way over Uluru
- APOD: 2024 May 29 Á Stairway to the Milky Way
- APOD: 2023 December 12 Á Aurora and Milky Way over Norway
- Milky Way Rising