This image highlights the complex structure of the Summer Milky Way. Looking edgewise into the bulging disk of our galaxy, the light from millions upon millions of stars blends together to create the band of light we call the Milky Way. The dark, irregularly shaped "holes" in the Milky Way are actually huge clouds of dust that hide the starlight behnid them. The Universe is filled with these obscuring, dusty clouds; see our Eagle Nebula and Rosette Nebula for more examples. The Center of our Galaxy is visible in this image- it's near the bright cloud just above the left edge of the trees (they're blurred because the telescope was moving during the exposure).

In this shorter exposure, not as much detail is visible. Also note the difference in film: 400 speed (above) doesn't bring out as much red as 1000 speed (below). In the bottom image it is easier to pick out the stars of Sagittarius. Eight stars in the main pattern of Sagittarius form a teapot (below center). The center of the galaxy looks like steam rising from the spout of the teapot. Among other features visible in this image is the tail of Scorpius, at lower right. The two bright open clusters M6 and M7 are above and left of Scorpius' tail. The Lagoon Nebula is visible as a small pink and white patch further up. Finally, at top center, two more small red patches mark the positions of the Swan and Eagle Nebulae. The technique used to take this picture is called the "garbage bag" method. All it requires is a trash bag or any dark, opaque surface. After you set your camera up on the tripod, center the frame, then hold the trash bag over the lens. Start the exposure, then wait for all the vibrations to settle down, and finally remove the bag. This prevents the stars from trailing. Then before you stop the exposure, put the bag back over the lens again.