This amazing complex of star clouds, and bright and dark nebulae in the Sagittarius - Ophiuchus region lies near the central bulge of our own galaxy, the Milky Way.

Hold your mouse cursor over the image to see object identifications.

Many of these Dark nebulae were cataloged by E. E. Barnard.

Almost the entire complex of dark nebulae seen on the right hand side of the image makes up the Dark Horse and Rider, which stands vertically in this image. The Pipe Nebula, Lynds Dark Nebula 1773, comprises the hind quarter and back leg of the Dark Horse. B63 is the front leg, B270 is the Horse's head, and B276 is the Rider's head.

The area is also filled with bright emission nebulae such as M8, the Lagoon Nebula, M20, the Trifid Nebula, and M17, the Omega Nebula.

M24, the small Sagittarius star cloud, is at the upper left, and the large Sagittarius star cloud at lower left.

The center of our galaxy lies near the bottom edge of the image.

North is to the top in the above image.

Sagittarius - Ophiuchus Region Object Type: Wide-Field Area Area Size: 22.5° x 15° Constellation: Sagittarius, Ophiuchus Image Field Centered At: RA: 17h 45m 59s Dec: -22° 23' 36"