Galactic centre region in infrared from Spitzer

The Spitzer Space Telescope's infrared-light observations provide a detailed and spectacular view of the galactic centre region. The swirling core of our galaxy harbours hundreds of thousands of stars that cannot be seen in visible light. These stars heat the nearby gas and dust. These dusty clouds glow in infrared light and reveal their often dramatic shapes. Some of these clouds harbour stellar nurseries that are forming new generations of stars. Like the downtown of a large city, the centre of our galaxy is a crowded, active and vibrant place.