Large Sagittarius Star Cloud
| Large Sagittarius Star Cloud | |
|---|---|
Large Sagittarius Star Cloud with Lagoon Nebula above | |
| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Right ascension | 18h |
| Declination | −29° |
| Distance | ~25 kly |
| Characteristics | |
| Type | Star cloud |
| Apparent size (V) | 6°x4° |
The Large Sagittarius Star Cloud is the brightest visible region of the Milky Way galaxy, a portion of the central bulge seen around the thick dust of the Great Rift which lines the northwest edge. It should not be confused with the nearby Small Sagittarius Star Cloud, which lies about 10° to the north. The star cloud stretches several degrees north from the star Gamma Sagittarii and is considered a splendid sight in binoculars - "a bright glow with multitudes of momentarily resolved star-sparks". To the naked eye, the Cloud appears bright and smooth, and is said to resemble a puff of "steam" escaping from the spout of the Sagittarius "Teapot" asterism.